Hannah Einbinder Calls to Free Palestine in Emmy Speech, Explains Jewish Obligation

Hannah Einbinder, who won the Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Hacks, used her acceptance speech to say "Free Palestine" and criticize U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), sparking both attention and controversy. She explained that her statement was deeply personal due to her friends working as frontline medical workers and educators in Gaza. Einbinder emphasized her obligation as a Jewish person to distinguish between Jewish identity and the State of Israel, describing her faith and culture as separate from the policies of the Israeli government. She also joined over 1,200 others in signing a pledge to boycott Israeli film institutions seen as complicit in the conflict, clarifying that the boycott targets institutions, not individual artists. Einbinder views boycotts as effective political tools to pressure governments and institutions to address social justice issues. Her remarks and activism have drawn praise and fueled discussions about the role of artists in political advocacy.