At the 2025 Emmy Awards, Javier Bardem made headlines not just for his role in Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menéndez, but for the Palestinian scarf—or kufiya—he wore on the red carpet, signaling his solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The kufiya is a traditional Middle Eastern scarf, often made from cotton or linen, sometimes wool, and recognized for its distinctive woven geometric patterns. While the classic Palestinian version is black and white, Bardem chose a red-and-white kufiya, a style historically associated with leftist Palestinian movements and increasingly worn by women as well as men.
“I am here today denouncing the genocide in Gaza. The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) has concluded that it is a genocide, and that is why we are calling for a diplomatic and commercial blockade, as well as sanctions against Israel to stop the genocide. Freedom for Palestine!” Bardem declared to Variety before the start of the ceremony held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
“These are the things we wanted to see, what we are doing, and on a day like today it’s important to bring it into the debate,” he added. “There are thousands, tens of thousands of children dying of hunger, and they call it self-defense. Now the world finally knows what is happening,” he stated.
Originally, the kufiya had practical uses: protecting the head and face from desert sun, wind, and sand. Over time, it also became a symbol of social and political identity. In Palestine, it was historically worn by rural farmers and Bedouins, distinguishing them from urban elites. By the 1960s, it became widely recognized as an emblem of Palestinian national identity and resistance, famously adopted by leaders like Yasir Arafat.
Today, the kufiya appears not only as a political statement but also in fashion. Designers like Nicolas Ghesquière of Balenciaga have incorporated it into high fashion collections, and colorful versions are worn worldwide. However, its use remains controversial: while some embrace it as a symbol of solidarity, others see it as a political statement that carries strong historical and cultural weight.
By wearing the red-and-white kufiya at the Emmys, Bardem joined a long tradition of using the scarf to make a statement. On the red carpet, he paired it with his outfit to draw attention to the ongoing struggles in Gaza, reinforcing the kufiya’s role as both a garment and a symbol of resistance and solidarity.
He wasn’t alone: Hannah Einbinder and Megan Stalter also sent messages of solidarity and called for a ceasefire. “As a queer, Jewish, and American person, I am horrified by the massacre of over 65,000 Palestinians in Gaza,” Einbinder stated.
In a single accessory, Bardem brought attention to centuries of history, political struggle, and cultural significance—all while stepping out on one of Hollywood’s biggest nights.
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