Hannah Einbinder, star of HBO Max’s Hacks, sparked controversy and applause at the Emmys on Sunday night when she used her first acceptance speech to call for political change. Winning Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Ava Daniels, the actress ended her remarks with an unusual mix of sports loyalty and political declarations.“I just want to say, finally, go Birds, F— ICE, and free Palestine. Thank you,” Einbinder told the audience, referring to the Philadelphia Eagles, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the war in Gaza. Her words drew loud applause and immediate viral attention online.Later, speaking to Variety, the actress explained why she went public with her views. “I have friends in Gaza who are working as front-line workers, as doctors right now in the north of Gaza to provide care for pregnant women and for school children. To create schools in the refugee camps, and it’s an issue that’s really close to my heart for many reasons,” she said. “I feel like it is my obligation as a Jewish person to distinguish Jews from the state of Israel.”Einbinder exceeded her time limit on stage, joking she would pay the penalty set by host Nate Bargatze’s charity pledge. A GoFundMe was soon launched to cover her $10,000 “overage fine,” with funds going to the Boys and Girls Club.Her co-star Meg Stalter also made a statement on the red carpet, wearing jeans and a T-shirt with a purse that read “CEASE FIRE!”, while actor Javier Bardem appeared in a Palestinian kaffiyeh, declaring: “How many hundreds of thousands of dead children need to suffer for people to wake up?”
Hamas mouthpiece praises speech
Einbinder’s remarks quickly caught the attention of Quds News Network, a social media outlet accused of close ties to Hamas. The group praised her speech, posting footage with commentary that framed her as a Jewish voice distinguishing faith from Israel. Yet the clip censored Einbinder’s bare shoulders and cleavage, prompting ridicule online, New York Post reported.Critics mocked the network’s approach, with one X user writing: “The people you scream on behalf of think so little of your rights as a woman that they CENSOR your entire upper body.” The American Jewish Committee’s Simone Rodan-Benzaquen said the incident reflected “all the absurdity” of the moment.
