Fez—Jennifer Lawrence broke her silence on the Gaza war during a press conference for her new film “Die, My Love,” describing events in Palestine as “no less than a genocide” and expressing fear about the political climate that young voters are inheriting.
The remarks came at the San Sebastián International Film Festival on Friday, where the actor was appearing to promote her latest project and receive the festival’s Donostia honor.
In brief comments that quickly circulated online, Lawrence said she was “terrified” for children and lamented the “normalization” of dishonesty and incivility in U.S. politics, adding that audiences should “stay focused on who is responsible” rather than targeting artists for speaking.
Video excerpts and trade coverage captured her central line—“what’s happening is no less than a genocide and it’s unacceptable”—as well as her concern that statements by entertainers risk becoming fodder for more rhetorical fire.
Lawrence’s intervention arrives amid a heated debate in the film industry over cultural boycotts tied to the conflict.
This week, one open letter rejected a pledge to boycott Israeli film institutions, arguing that blacklisting based on nationality stifles dialogue; the counter-letter was signed by more than 1,200 entertainment figures.
The Guardian reported that Lawrence has not signed either the boycott pledge or the opposing statement, even as she called for accountability from elected officials.
Her comments also land as international organizations and rights groups continue to warn of the humanitarian toll and the risks of further escalation amidst Israel’s relentless genocide in Gaza since October 2023.
Lawrence’s remarks underscore how the crisis has permeated global cultural forums, with film festivals becoming stages for free-expression debates alongside premieres and awards.
At San Sebastián, moderators reportedly tried to steer the Q&A away from political subjects, but questions persisted, reflecting the extent to which the conflict has reshaped public discourse from red carpets to writers’ rooms.
For Lawrence, the emphasis was on civic engagement rather than celebrity soundbites: she urged audiences to channel energy toward elections and policy, and to avoid letting artists become proxies for frustration with officials. As clips of the exchange circulated across social platforms and entertainment outlets, her statement added a high-profile voice to a conversation that shows no sign of leaving the cultural agenda.
