Ricky Gervais on Monday reposted part of a 2020 Golden Globes monologue on X, taking aim at stars who used the Emmy stage the night before to make political statements.
The Office co-creator shared a clip of his earlier remarks — "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" — and captioned the post, "They're still not listening." The repost followed the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sept. 14, 2025, where several winners and nominees referenced contemporary political issues in acceptance speeches and on the red carpet.
Among those who used the ceremony to raise political concerns was Hannah Einbinder, who concluded her acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series by saying, "Finally, go birds, f*** ICE and free Palestine." Einbinder, who signed a Film Workers for Palestine pledge calling for a boycott of Israeli film companies she and other signatories say are "implicated in genocide and apartheid," later told reporters she felt an obligation as a Jewish person to distinguish Jewish identity from the policies of the State of Israel.
Megan Stalter, another breakout performer from HBO's Hacks, carried the word "Ceasefire!" on a purse on the red carpet and said she felt it was important to use her platform to call for peace. Javier Bardem, nominated for supporting actor in a limited series, wore a black-and-white keffiyeh and urged viewers in a Variety interview to support a pro-Palestine movement and sanctions against Israel. Bardem referenced findings by the International Association of Genocide Scholars when describing the conflict and said Film Workers for Palestine seeks to target institutions rather than individuals.
The episode included broader references to the intersection of entertainment and politics when Daniel O'Brien, senior writer for HBO's Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, remarked during his show's acceptance for Best Writing for a Variety Series: "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."
Gervais's repost revived a debate about whether awards shows should be used as platforms for political speech. Social media reaction to his post was mixed: some users praised the comedian's bluntness, calling the 2020 monologue one of his "best rants," while others accused him of hypocrisy or argued that speaking out against war and human rights abuses did not require special expertise.
The Film Workers for Palestine pledge — endorsed by thousands of industry professionals, including actors who have publicly supported the measure — was assembled earlier this month ahead of the two-year anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and amid heightened scrutiny of industry ties to Israeli companies. Signatories have said the effort targets companies and institutions they view as complicit rather than individual artists.
Gervais has repeatedly used awards-stage commentary to criticize celebrity political statements; his 2020 Golden Globes monologue drew wide attention and controversy at the time. The exchange on X and the Emmy ceremony underscore an ongoing discussion in U.S. entertainment circles about the role of public figures in political advocacy and the boundaries of platform use.
Representatives for Gervais and for the actors quoted did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment Monday.