Actress Hannah Einbinder is facing backlash after using her Emmy acceptance speech to deliver a political message on Gaza and immigration enforcement. Her comments prompted a rare rebuke from the Department of Homeland Security.
The department said her remarks were “ugly” and potentially harmful to law enforcement.
Einbinder won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in “Hacks” on Sunday. She wrapped up her speech with a political message that quickly went viral.
“Go birds, f— ICE and free Palestine,” she said.
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The line drew both praise and criticism online and drew the attention of federal officials.
DHS says the speech could inspire violence
In a statement to TMZ, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned Einbinder’s remarks as inflammatory.
“How ugly — such demonization is inspiring violence against our ICE law enforcement who are facing a 1,000% increase in assaults against them,” McLaughlin said.
The department’s response comes amid heightened scrutiny of celebrity commentary on the Israel-Gaza war. There’s also a growing concern among law enforcement agencies about targeted threats.
Einbinder: speaking out is a Jewish ‘obligation’
After the ceremony, Einbinder expanded on her remarks in a post-win interview. Speaking to reporters, she emphasized that her decision to speak up was rooted in her identity as a Jewish woman.
“Our religion and our culture is such an important and long-standing institution that is really separate to this sort of ethnonationalist state,” she said.
She didn’t say whether the line was scripted in advance. However, she wore a red Artists4Ceasefire pin on her gown – a symbol also seen on Ruth Negga, Chris Perfetti and Aimee Lou Wood.
A growing list of celebrities join Palestine pledge
Einbinder is also one of more than 4,500 members of the entertainment industry who signed the Film Workers for Palestine pledge. The statement commits signees to refusing collaboration with Israeli film institutions “implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people.”
Organizers say the pledge targets institutions, not individual Israelis. Supporters include actors Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo and Ayo Edebiri.
Einbinder told reporters that she believes the pledge is necessary to “create pressure on the powers that be.”
Quds News edits (then deletes) her speech
Einbinder’s speech was also reposted by Quds News Network, a Palestinian media outlet that regularly highlights pro-Palestinian activism.
However, in the version shared online, which has since been deleted, Einbinder’s bare shoulders were blurred.
In Gaza and parts of the West Bank, conservative dress – such as hijabs and long sleeves – is the norm for women. Einbinder’s “Hacks” costar Jean Smart, who wore a turtleneck, was not censored in the video.
The edited video has since been deleted. Though the network has not commented on the edit, the moment sparked fresh debate on social platforms, first reported by The New York Post.
