Ricky Gervais invoked a five-year-old Golden Globes line on social media after the 2025 Emmy Awards, taking aim at what he called political grandstanding by Hollywood figures during the ceremony.
Gervais reposted an X upload of the 2020 Golden Globes remark — "If you do win an award tonight, don't use it as a platform to make a political speech. You're in no position to lecture the public about anything" — which he originally delivered while hosting the Globes, and added the caption, "They're still not listening." He drew attention to the 2020 quip that included a reference to Greta Thunberg and the line, "You know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg."
The post followed a string of political remarks and visible statements at the awards show, held Sept. 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Hannah Einbinder, who won Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Hacks, used the close of her acceptance speech to say, "Finally, go birds, f*** ICE and free Palestine - thank you!" Another Hacks star, Megan Stalter, displayed the word "Ceasefire!" on her purse on the red carpet and told Variety that it was important to use platforms to "stick up for people and for peace."
Spanish actor Javier Bardem, nominated for best supporting actor in a limited series, wore a black-and-white keffiyeh on the red carpet and voiced support for Palestine. He spoke of a pledge taken by more than 1,800 film industry workers to boycott Israeli film companies, and said he was "denouncing the genocide in Gaza," referring to an assessment by the International Association of Genocide Scholars. Bardem said he and others are organizing Film Workers for Palestine and urged commercial and diplomatic pressure, including what he described as a blockade and sanctions on Israel.
Einbinder, who is Jewish, told reporters backstage that signing the Film Workers for Palestine pledge was a matter of distinction between her religion and the Israeli state. She said the boycott targets institutions it deems "directly complicit in the genocide," and does not target individuals.
The political tone extended beyond the red carpet and acceptance speeches. When HBO's Last Week Tonight with John Oliver won Best Writing for a Variety Series, senior writer Daniel O'Brien quipped in his acceptance comments: "We share this category — we are honoured to share it with all writers of late night political comedy while that is still a type of show that's allowed to exist."
Reaction to Gervais's repost was mixed on social media. Some users praised the comedian's stance, calling his Golden Globes rant a favorite and urging it be quoted before award ceremonies. Others criticized his admonition as lecturing in itself or argued that celebrities have a platform and responsibility to speak on issues such as alleged atrocities abroad.
The exchange highlights an ongoing debate over the role of entertainers in public discourse. Supporters of onstage activism say awards shows are high-visibility venues that can draw attention to humanitarian crises and political causes. Critics contend that such forums are ill-suited for complex policy debates and that statements delivered in moments of celebration can oversimplify or polarize.
Several high-profile industry members have been publicly involved in the Film Workers for Palestine pledge in recent weeks, including actors and filmmakers who argue the measure targets companies and institutions rather than individuals. Organizers and signatories say the pledge aims to pressure entities they view as complicit in actions against Palestinians; opponents warn that cultural boycotts risk excluding artists and shutting down exchange.
The back-and-forth between celebrity activism and calls for restraint is likely to continue as geopolitical tensions persist and as entertainers weigh the influence and limits of visibility at high-profile events. Gervais's repost underscores that the question of whether awards stages should be used for political speech remains a contentious element of contemporary entertainment culture.