Cillian Murphy and Billie Eilish were among the big names that banded together to create an awkward pro-Palestine video promoting the “Together For Palestine” benefit concert.
Nothing says “solidarity” like a painfully staged celebrity PSA – and Joaquin Phoenix, Javier Bardem, Annie Mac, Peter Gabriel, and a few of their famous friends just proved it. The stars released a video ahead of the September 17 “Together For Palestine” concert, but the clip that was meant to inspire support left viewers squirming in secondhand embarrassment. With overly dramatic stares, slow pauses, and scripted lines delivered like high school theater, the video tried hard to be powerful but landed squarely in cringe territory.
Celebrities attempting activism struck serious tones, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza while urging fans to “stand in solidarity,” but the delivery came off more like a forced PSA than a heartfelt call to action. Critics have accused the group of using a humanitarian crisis as a stage for self-importance, pointing out that they came to the party far too late.
Social media users called out the stars for lending their voices to the pro-Palestine organization a full two years into Gaza’s crisis.
Instead of heartfelt, the campaign felt forced and oddly scripted, ultimately reminding viewers that not every global issue needs celebrity voices attached to it.