Javier Bardem leads Hollywood stars advocating for peace at politically-charged Oscars

Javier Bardem made one of many politically charged comments from stars on the stage of the 98th Academy Awards.

The 2026 Oscars marked a huge night for Michael B Jordan and Jessie Buckley, who took home best actor and best actress, while One Battle After Another and Sinners dominated in other categories.

And plenty of stars took the opportunity to call for peace by either wearing or speaking out in protest at the ceremony.

Award-winning actor Bardem, 57, who was presenting the award for best international film alongside Priyanka Chopra, said as soon as he reached the microphone: ‘No to war and free Palestine.’

The Spanish star was also wearing a ‘No a la Guerra’ anti-war badge.

The actor originally wore the badge in 2003 as a protest against the war in Iraq.

Speaking on the red carpet, he said: ‘I’m wearing a pin that I used in 2003 during the Iraq war, which was an illegal war. And here we are, 23 years later, facing another illegal war.’

Bardem wasn’t the only star who got political at the Oscars.

Jimmy Kimmel made a dig at Donald Trump, while director Paul Thomas Anderson referenced ‘the mess that we left in this world’.

Ahead of announcing the winners of documentary short and documentary feature, Kimmel appeared to make a dig at the US president, whose wife Melania’s own documentary was recently released.

‘Oh man, is he gonna be mad his wife wasn’t nominated for this,’ he quipped.

On a more serious note, he added: ‘We hear a lot about courage at shows like this but telling a story that could get you killed for telling it is real courage.

‘As you know, there are some countries whose leaders don’t support free speech.’

Accepting the award for best adapted screenplay for One Battle After Another, its director Paul Thomas Anderson said he was ‘incredibly honoured to be part of this history’.

He added: ‘I wrote this movie for my kids to say sorry for the housekeeping mess that we left in this world we are handing off to them but also with the encouragement that they will be the generation that hopefully brings us common sense and decency.’

And as Norwegian film Sentimental Value won the Oscar for best international feature, its director Joachim Trier paraphrased writer James Baldwin when he took to the stage.

‘All adults are responsible for all children, let’s not vote for politicians who don’t take this seriously into account,’ he said.

Even the awards’ host, Conan O’Brien, made some more serious comments amidst his stream of gags.

He told the ceremony: ‘If I can be serious for just a moment, everyone watching right now, around the world, is all too aware that these are very chaotic, frightening times.

‘It’s at moments like these that I believe that the Oscars are particularly resonant.

‘Check it out, 31 countries across six continents are represented this evening, and every film we salute is the product of thousands of people speaking different languages, working hard to make something of beauty.

‘We pay tribute tonight, not just to film, but to the ideals of global artistry, collaboration, patience, resilience, and that rarest of qualities today, optimism.

‘So let us please celebrate. Let us celebrate not because we think all is well, but because we work and hope for better. New days ahead.’

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