Stars at Sunday night’s 77th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles cloaked political and cultural messages in their red‑carpet fashion, with a mix of overt accessories and subtler sartorial choices that drew attention as much as the gowns and tuxes.
Among the most discussed looks was Sydney Sweeney’s cherry‑red Oscar de la Renta gown, a cleavage‑bearing couture number that many interpreted as a deliberate response to controversies the actress faced this year. Sweeney, 28, wore a dramatic train and large Lorraine Schwartz diamonds alongside the dress; the ensemble was widely read as a visual rejoinder to backlash over an American Eagle campaign and reports that she had registered as a Republican in Monroe County, Florida earlier this year.
The American Eagle ad that featured Sweeney and the tagline “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” drew criticism in March, with commentators arguing the phrase recalled “great genes” rhetoric that can invoke narrow standards of beauty. The campaign backlash intensified after media reports about Sweeney’s political registration. Supporters and critics alike have since parsed her public appearances for meaning; her monochrome red look prompted some observers to link the color to the Republican Party, though the star did not explain the outfit’s intent on the carpet.
Other celebrities used accessories or design references to make cultural or political gestures. Jenna Ortega, who presented at the ceremony, arrived in a Givenchy ensemble that paired a floor‑length black skirt with a jeweled topless‑style piece reminiscent of a look by Isabella Rossellini in the 1992 film Death Becomes Her. The 22‑year‑old Ortega has previously appeared in music videos and other projects with provocative imagery; her Emmy look led commentators to note the visual echo of the 1990s film’s beaded coverage.
K‑pop star Lalisa Manobal, known as Lisa of Blackpink, wore a Lever Couture gown and a Bulgari Serpenti necklace — a bejeweled serpent motif that was widely linked to the snake imagery in season three of Mike White’s White Lotus. Several cast members used jewelry and styling to reference motifs from the show: Walton Goggins, who appeared in season three, wore snake‑themed rings and a green necklace, which viewers connected to a snake sequence in the series.
Political symbolism was also front and center for a number of attendees. Javier Bardem arrived with a traditional Palestinian keffiyeh draped around his neck and used an interview with Variety to call for support of the “Free Palestine” movement, saying he was “denouncing the genocide in Gaza” and advocating commercial and diplomatic measures against institutions he described as complicit. Bardem also discussed forming Film Workers for Palestine and said his concern targeted companies and institutions he views as involved in ‘‘whitewashing or justifying’’ violence, comments he made on the red carpet and in subsequent interviews.
Several actors and creators displayed pins organized by Artists4Ceasefire, a group within the entertainment industry that has distributed small red pins featuring a hand motif to signal calls for a ceasefire, release of hostages and delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. Hannah Einbinder, who won the Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series, wore one such pin on her gown and concluded her acceptance speech with a profanity‑infused call that included “free Palestine,” a comment that was widely reported. Aimee Lou Wood and other performers likewise clipped the red pins to their outfits on the carpet.
The Artists4Ceasefire pins have provoked debate. Supporters say the accessory symbolizes a humanitarian plea for an immediate ceasefire; critics have objected to the imagery, including charges from some Israeli figures that the pin evokes painful historical events. The controversy flared earlier in the year when several celebrities wore the pin at the Academy Awards and faced public criticism for the choice.
Comedian Megan Stalter made an unambiguous statement with accessories rather than jewelry, carrying a black leather handbag emblazoned with the words “cease fire!” while wearing a simple jeans‑and‑T‑shirt look on the carpet. Stalter’s bag was widely reported as a direct call for an end to the Israel‑Gaza fighting that began in October 2023.
The presence of political messaging at entertainment awards shows is not new, but the variety of methods — from full outfits and high‑jewelry references to small lapel pins and printed handbags — underscored the extent to which red‑carpet appearances have become platforms for personal and collective expression. Public reactions to the Emmys’ sartorial statements reflected the wider debate in entertainment and politics: some viewers praised celebrities for speaking out on humanitarian issues, while others criticized the mixing of political advocacy with awards‑season spectacle.
Fashion critics and fans also parsed references that were cultural rather than strictly political. Jenna Ortega’s Rossellini‑evoking top prompted commentary on Hollywood’s recurring visual nods to past icons, while Lisa’s Bulgari necklace and Walton Goggins’s snake jewelry tied fashion choices to on‑screen narratives and character motifs.
As the television season and awards circuit continue, the Emmys’ red‑carpet moments will likely be revisited for the signals they sent as much as the style itself. For now, designers, publicists and stars will continue to navigate the spotlight’s dual role as a stage for glamour and a forum for messaging.