Hannah Einbinder’s brief onstage remarks at the Emmy Awards — which included the phrase “F–k ICE and Free Palestine” — were shared Monday by Quds News Network, a news outlet that supports Hamas, which posted praise for the comments and a photograph of the comedian with her torso blurred.
Einbinder, 30, made the remarks during Sunday night’s ceremony and later told reporters backstage that she sought to separate her Jewish identity from the policies of the Israeli state. “I feel like it is my obligation as a Jewish person to distinguish Jews from the state of Israel, because our religion and our culture is such an important and long-standing institution that is really separate to this sort of ethno-nationalist state,” she said. “It’s important to talk about Palestine because it’s an issue that’s very dear to my heart.”
The post by Quds News Network drew attention not only for amplifying Einbinder’s politics but for altering the photograph it shared: the image obscured her shoulders and the pro-Palestine pin she wore, according to screenshots and reporting. The outlet characterized its coverage in a manner consistent with its editorial line, while the photo modification was notable to commentators who flagged the change on social media.
Einbinder is the daughter of Laraine Newman, an original performer on Saturday Night Live. Her Emmy remarks and subsequent comments were reported and discussed widely in U.S. media on Monday, and they drew a mix of criticism and defense on social platforms and in opinion columns. The New York Post ran an opinion piece condemning Einbinder’s remarks and criticizing what the author described as the lack of pushback from the live audience and other attendees. That piece also invoked the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel and framed Einbinder’s comments against the backdrop of that violence.
Einbinder has built a public profile as a stand-up comedian and actor; she has previously spoken about political and social issues in interviews and onstage. At the Emmys she delivered a short, profane line that combined criticism of U.S. immigration enforcement with support for Palestinian rights, and she expanded on her views in conversations with reporters after the ceremony.
The exchange underscores continuing tensions over public figures weighing in on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Statements by entertainers and other high-profile individuals are frequently amplified and repurposed by international outlets, sometimes with alterations that change how the remarks are presented. Quds News Network’s sharing of Einbinder’s words reflects how partisan and state-aligned media can reframe celebrity commentary for audiences aligned with their political positions.
Einbinder’s comments and the subsequent international coverage come amid an ongoing, polarized debate in the United States over statements about Israel and Palestine, which has featured vocal responses from advocacy groups, media outlets and public figures. Some commentators view celebrity interventions as a legitimate part of public discourse; others argue such interventions can be inflammatory or insensitive to victims of recent violence.
Representatives for Einbinder and for Quds News Network did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday. The Emmys ceremony itself did not include an onstage response to Einbinder’s line, and organizers have not issued a public statement addressing her remarks.