In a striking appearance featuring an elegant black Armani dress, Israeli actress Gal Gadot captured attention but also drew criticism Sunday at the Golden Globes ceremony.
Her decision to walk the red carpet and present the Best Actor in a Drama award without wearing the yellow hostage pin – a symbol that has become internationally recognized as representing solidarity with the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 – sparked immediate controversy. The pin, in the shape of a yellow ribbon, has been widely adopted by public figures and civilians worldwide as a way to keep attention focused on the ongoing hostage crisis.
Israelis demonstrating at the Hostage Square in Tel Aviv for the release of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza on August 31, 2024. Photo credit: Gideon MarkowiczGideon Markowicz
The absence of the pin triggered widespread social media backlash among Israelis, even from Israeli television personalities. Representatives for Gadot initially explained that strict ceremony guidelines prohibited presenters from "creating provocations," adding that while unable to circumvent these rules, Gadot chose to demonstrate solidarity with the hostages by wearing a yellow ring. They noted this gesture followed her Instagram story to hundreds of millions of followers before the ceremony, addressing Hamas' recently released video of 19-year-old hostage Liri Albag.
However, the Golden Globes moved to refute this explanation on Tuesday. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association issued a statement to media outlets, firmly declaring that reports circulating in Israeli media were "absolutely false."
Their statement emphasized: "The Golden Globes has no policy prohibiting the wearing of pins or other symbols supporting, or perceived to support, political or social causes. Furthermore, no instructions were given to Gal Gadot or any other presenter/participant at the Golden Globes prohibiting the wearing of a ribbon or any other symbol during the ceremony or related events."
