The murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk was not mentioned during an otherwise highly political broadcast of the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday night.
While many of the celebrities at Los Angeles‘ Peacock Theater voiced their support for Palestine and condemned Donald Trump‘s immigration crackdown, there was a deafening silence over the fatal shooting of the Turning Point USA founder.
Just four days before the glitzy red carpet event, the 31-year-old Trump ally was shot in the neck after beginning a Q&A session as part of his ‘American Comeback Tour’ in front of a 3,000-person crowd at Utah Valley University.
The politically-charged killing of the outspoken Republican made international headlines, but not one of the Hollywood stars acknowledged Wednesday’s tumultuous events in their speeches.
Some people watching television’s biggest night from home took to social media to express their anger at the silence over Kirk’s death, which the U.S. president condemned as a ‘heinous assassination’ and an act of ‘political violence’.
‘So they decided to be non political this year is why NO Moment of Silence for Charlie Kirk at the #Emmys,’ said one angry user. ‘What a joke Hollywood has become. I’m sure ratings will be at lowest levels again find out tomorrow.’
Another added: ‘That #CharlieKirk tribute at the #Emmys was very touching. Very well done. What? You say I got that wrong?
‘Couldn’t be! I mean, these bastions of tolerance, peace, love, and wokeness will do it at some point in the show, right? RIGHT?!?’
Javier Bardem, 56, was among the Hollywood stars to express their support for Palestine on Sunday at the show from the Peacock Theater at LA Live in Los Angeles
Hannah Einbinder accepts Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Emmy for Hacks
Hacks star Hannah Einbinder, 30, after winning the honors for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, ended her speech saying: ‘Free Palestine!’
One user noted: ‘Charlie Kirk was not mentioned once at the Emmy awards. George Floyd was Mentioned numerous times in previous Emmy awards shows. Absolutely disgusting.’
While celebrities remained silent on Kirk, many of Sunday’s speeches were full of references to contemporary political issues. Hacks star Hannah Einbinder, 30, used the end of her acceptance speech to spotlight Palestine.
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After picking up the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, the actress concluded her address saying: ‘Finally, go birds, f**k ICE and free Palestine – thank you!’
Comic actress Megan Stalter, 35, another breakout star from HBO’s Hacks, had the phrase ‘Ceasefire!’ written on her purse on the red carpet. ‘It’s the most important to stick up for people and for peace,’ Stalter told Variety of the political statement. ‘We have to use our platforms.’
She posed the question: ‘What’s the point of being at these big events if you’re not going to use your privilege?’
Javier Bardem was another one of the Hollywood celebrities to voice his support for Palestine on Sunday’s red carpet, referring to a pledge more than 1,800 entertainment industry workers have taken to boycott working with Israeli film companies.
The Oscar-winning actor, 56, who wore a black and white keffiyeh around his neck, urged those watching to support the pro-Palestine movement in an interview with Variety, after the pledge was put together earlier this month – just ahead of the two-year anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 massacre.
A number of social media users vented their displeasure at Kirk’s death not being acknowledged by Emmys organizers
‘Here I am today denouncing the genocide in Gaza,’ the No Country for Old Men actor said. ‘I’m talking about the IAGS, which is the International Association of Genocide Scholars, who [have thoroughly studied] genocide and declared [the current Israel-Palestine conflict] a genocide.’
On the red carpet, Bardem, a native of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain who is married to fellow A-lister Penelope Cruz, explained his views and objectives in detail.
‘That’s why we ask for a commercial and diplomatic blockade, and also sanctions on Israel to stop the genocide – free Palestine!’ Bardem said.
Bardem explained of organisation efforts he and others in Hollywood are taking amid the politically-tense situation.
‘We are getting together Film Workers for Palestine,’ Bardem said. ‘It’s a great union [and] group that is getting more and more people attached.
‘It’s also important to clarify to Paramount that we do not target individuals by their identity – that’s absolutely wrong – don’t send that message, that is a wrong thing.’
Bardem continued: ‘What we target are those complicit film companies and institutions that are involved in whitewashing or justifying the genocide of Israel in Gaza and its apartheid regime.’
He added: ‘And we stand with those who fight and stand in solidarity with the oppressed.’
Megan Stalter at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on September 14, 2025 in Los Angeles, California
Kirk was participating in a ‘Prove Me Wrong’ debate at Utah Valley University when he was fatally shot
Emmy Awards 2025 winners: AT A GLANCE
Best Drama Series: The Pitt
Best Actor in a Drama Series: Noah Wyle – The Pitt
Best Supporting Acress in a Drama Series – Katherine LaNasa
Best Actress in a Drama Series: Britt Lower – Severance
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Tramell Tillman – Severance
Best Limited or Anthology Series: Adolescence
Best Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Stephen Graham – Adolescence
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Owen Cooper – Adolescence
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Erin Doherty – Adolescence
Best Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Cristin Milioti – The Penguin
Noah Wyle led The Pitt to a massive night which included Best Drama Series
Best Comedy Series: The Studio
Best Actor in a Comedy Series: Seth Rogen – The Studio
Best Directing for a Comedy Series: Seth Rogen – The Studio
Best Writing for a Comedy Series – Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, Frida Perez
Best Actress in a Comedy Series: Jean Smart – Hacks
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Hannah Einbinder – Hacks
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Jeff Hiller – Somebody Somewhere
Best Talk Series: The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Best Scripted Variety Series: Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
Outstanding Variety Special (Live): SNL 50: The Anniversary Special
Best Reality Competition Series: The Traitors
Seth Rogen and The Studio earned an impressive 13 Primetime Emmys
The actor was nominated for best supporting actor in a limited series for his role in Netflix’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
Einbinder was one of the thousands of actors, directors and other film industry professionals – including Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix, Tilda Swinton and Olivia Colman – who signed the Film Workers for Palestine pledge to boycott Israeli film companies ‘implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people’.
She was asked backstage to elaborate on her pro-Palestine speech and decision to sign the boycott pledge.
‘I feel like it is my obligation as a Jewish person to distinguish Jews from the State of Israel, because our religion and our culture is such an important and long standing institution that is really separate to this sort of ethno-nationalist state,’ she told the press, reported Deadline.
‘Boycotting is an effective tool to create pressure on the powers that be to meet the moment. The Film Workers for Palestine boycott does not boycott individuals, it only boycotts institutions that are directly complicit in the genocide … I think it’s an important measure, so I was happy to be a part of it.’
Another pointed political reference came after HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver claimed the award for Best Writing for a Variety Series.
The show’s senior writer, Daniel O’Brien, said in the acceptance speech: ‘We share this category – we are honoured to share it with all writers of late night political comedy while that is still a type of show that’s allowed to exist.’
The remarks followed the controversial firing of Stephen Colbert from his CBS late night show this past summer, with some saying the left-leaning host was a bargaining chip to appease the U.S. President amid CBS and Paramount’s $8-billion merger.
The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards: All the major winners
Best Drama Series
Andor
The Diplomat
The Last of Us
Paradise
The Pitt – WINNER
Severance
Slow Horses
The White Lotus
The Pitt earned top honor of the night – Best Drama Series – as Noah Wyle (center) and Katherine LaNasa also triumphed
Best Limited or Anthology Series
Adolescence – WINNER
Black Mirror
Dying For Sex
Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story
The Penguin
Best Television Movie
Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy
The Gorge
Mountainhead
Nonnas
Rebel Ridge – WINNER
Best Reality Competition Program
The Amazing
Race RuPaul’s Drag Race
Survivor
Top Chef
The Traitors – WINNER
Best Actor in a Drama Series
Sterling K. Brown: Paradise
Gary Oldman: Slow Horses
Pedro Pascal: The Last Of Us
Adam Scott: Severance
Noah Wyle: The Pitt – WINNER
Noah Wyle earned his first ever Emmy in the Best Actor category for The Pitt
Best Actress in a Drama Series
Kathy Bates: Matlock
Sharon Horgan: Bad Sisters
Britt Lower: Severance – WINNER
Bella Ramsey: The Last of Us
Keri Russell: The Diplomat
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Zach Cherry: Severance
Walton Goggins: The White Lotus
Jason Isaacs: The White Lotus
James Marsden: Paradise
Sam Rockwell: The White Lotus
Tramell Tillman: Severance – WINNER
John Turturro: Severance
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Patricia Arquette: Severance
Carrie Coon: The White Lotus
Katherine LaNasa: The Pitt – WINNER
Julianne Nicholson: Paradise
Parker Posey: The White Lotus
Natasha Rothwell: The White Lotus
Aimee Lou Wood: The White Lotus
Katherine LaNasa earned Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for The Pitt
Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Giancarlo Esposito: The Boys
Scott Glenn: The White Lotus
Shawn Hatosy: The Pitt – WINNER
Joe Pantoliano: The Last of Us
Forest Whitaker: Andor
Jeffrey Wright: The Last of Us
Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Jane Alexander: Severance
Gwendoline Christie: Severance
Kaitlyn Dever: The Last of Us
Cherry Jones: The Handmaid’s Tale
Catherine O’Hara: The Last of Us
Merritt Wever: Severance – WINNER
Best Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Colin Farrell: The Penguin
Stephen Graham: Adolescence – WINNER
Jake Gyllenhaal: Presumed Innocent
Brian Tyree Henry: Dope Thief
Cooper Koch: Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story
Best Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Cate Blanchett: Disclaimer
Meghann Fahy: Sirens
Rashida Jones: Black Mirror
Cristin Milioti: The Penguin – WINNER
Michelle Williams: Dying For Sex
Cristin Milioti was emotional as she earned an acting honor for The Penguin
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Javier Bardem: Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story
Bill Camp: Presumed Innocent
Owen Cooper: Adolescence – WINNER
Rob Delaney: Dying For Sex
Peter Sarsgaard: Presumed Innocent
Ashley Walters: Adolescence
Owen Cooper became the youngest male actor to ever earn an Emmy
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Erin Doherty: Adolescence – WINNER
Ruth Negga: Presumed Innocent
Deirdre O’Connell: The Penguin
Chloë Sevigny: Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Jenny Slate: Dying for Sex
Christine Tremarco: Adolescence
Best Talk Series
The Daily Show
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert – WINNER
Stephen Colbert received a standing ovation as he earned an Emmy
Best Scripted Variety Series
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver – WINNER
Saturday Night Live
Best Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
Hacks
Nobody Wants This
Only Murders In The Building
Shrinking
The Studio – WINNER
What We Do In The Shadows
The Studio earned the top comedy award
Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Uzo Aduba: The Residence
Kristen Bell: Nobody Wants This
Quinta Brunson: Abbott Elementary
Ayo Edebiri: The Bear
Jean Smart: Hacks – WINNER
Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Adam Brody: Nobody Wants This
Seth Rogen: The Studio – WINNER
Jason Segel: Shrinking
Martin Short: Only Murders in the Building
Jeremy Allen White: The Bear
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Liza Colón-Zayas: The Bear
Hannah Einbinder: Hacks – WINNER
Kathryn Hahn: The Studio
Janelle James: Abbott Elementary
Catherine O’Hara: The Studio
Sheryl Lee Ralph: Abbott Elementary
Jessica Williams: Shrinking
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Ike Barinholtz: The Studio
Colman Domingo: The Four Seasons
Harrison Ford: Shrinking
Jeff Hiller: Somebody Somewhere – WINNER
Ebon Moss-Bachrach: The Bear
Michael Urie: Shrinking
Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live
Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Olivia Colman: The Bear
Jamie Lee Curtis: The Bear
Cynthia Erivo: Poker Face
Robby Hoffman: Hacks
Zoë Kravitz: The Studio
Julianne Nicholson: Hacks – WINNER
Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Jon Bernthal: The Bear
Bryan Cranston: The Studio – WINNER
Dave Franco: The Studio
Ron Howard: The Studio
Anthony Mackie: The Studio
Martin Scorsese: The Studio
Best Writing for a Comedy Series
Quinta Brunson: Abbott Elementary
Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky: Hacks
Nathan Fielder, Carrie Kemper, Adam Locke-Norton, Eric Notarnicola: The Rehearsal
Hannah Bos, Paul Thureen, Bridget Everett: Somebody Somewhere
Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, Frida Perez: The Studio – WINNER
Sam Johnson, Sarah Naftalis, Paul Simms: What We Do In The Shadows
Best Writing for a Drama Series
Dan Gilroy, Andor – WINNER
Joe Sachs, The Pitt
R. Scott Gemmill, The Pitt
Dan Erickson, Severance
Will Smith, Slow Horses
Mike White, The White Lotus
Best Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Jack Thorne, Stephen Graham: Adolescence – WINNER
Charlie Brooker, Bisha K. Ali: Black Mirror
Kim Rosenstock, Elizabeth Meriwether: Dying For Sex
Lauren LeFranc: The Penguin
Joshua Zetumer: Say Nothing
Best Directing for a Drama Series
Janus Metz: Andor
Amanda Marsalis: The Pitt
John Wells: The Pitt
Jessica Lee Gagné: Severance
Ben Stiller: Severance
Adam Randall: Slow Horses – WINNER
Mike White: The White Lotus
Best Directing for a Comedy Series
Ayo Edebiri: The Bear
Lucia Aniello: Hacks
James Burrows: Mid-Century Modern
Nathan Fielder: The Rehearsal
Seth Rogen: The Studio – WINNER
Seth Rogen earned Best Director for a Comedy Series for The Studio
Best Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Philip Barantini: Adolescence – WINNER
Shannon Murphy: Dying For Sex
Helen Shaver: The Penguin
Jennifer Getzinger: The Penguin
Nicole Kassell: Sirens
Lesli Linka Glatter: Zero Day
Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program
RuPaul Charles: RuPaul’s Drag Race
Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Kevin O’Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Robert Herjavec Daymond John, Daniel Lubetsky: Shark Tank
Alan Cumming: The Traitors – WINNER
Kristen Kish: Top Chef
Jeff Probst: Survivor
Host for a Game Show
Elizabeth Banks: Press Your Luck
Steve Harvey: Celebrity Family Feud
Ken Jennings: Jeopardy!
Colin Jost: Pop Culture Jeopardy!
Jimmy Kimmel, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – WINNER
Structured Reality Program
Antiques Roadshow
Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives
Love Is Blind
Queer Eye – WINNER
Shark Tank
Unstructured Reality Program
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
Love On The Spectrum – WINNER
RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
Welcome to Wrexham
Outstanding Variety Special (Live)
Beyonce Bowl
The Oscars
The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar
SNL 50: The Anniversary Special – WINNER
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert
Lorne Michaels and Colin Jost accepted an award for SNL 50: The Anniversary Special
Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
Adam Sandler: Love You
Ali Wong: Single Lady
Bill Burr: Drop Dead Years
Conan O’Brien Mark Twain Prize – WINNER
Sarah Silverman: Post Mortem
Your Friend, Nate Bargatze
