Javier Bardem, Hannah Einbinder speak on Gaza at the Emmy Awards

Javier Bardem, a nominee for best supporting actor in a limited series for “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” wore a black and white keffiyeh around his neck. (Getty Images)
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Updated 15 September 2025
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Javier Bardem, Hannah Einbinder speak on Gaza at the Emmy Awards

DUBAI: The war in Gaza was certainly on the minds of some attendees at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.

Megan Stalter, one of the breakout stars of comedy hit “Hacks,” showed up casual in a white T-shirt and jeans, but her handbag did all the talking.

The black purse had white tape on it with a simple message: “Ceasefire!”

And Javier Bardem, a nominee for best supporting actor in a limited series for “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” wore a black and white keffiyeh around his neck.

“A lot of people are giving me their support in whispers, and I go, ‘Don't whisper, say it out loud,’” Bardem told AFP on the red carpet.

While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor did not want to talk about his work on “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” but rather the ongoing war in Gaza.

“At the end of August, the IAGS, the International Association of Genocide Scholars who studied thoroughly the concept of genocide, called what is going on in Gaza today a genocide,” Bardem said. “And that’s why we ask for the commercial and diplomatic blockade and the sanctions on Israel to stop this genocide. Free Palestine.”

He continued: “We are getting together Film Workers for Palestine. 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. 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. And we stand with those who fight and stand in solidarity with the oppressed.”

Commenters on social media also praised the media outlet’s reporter for not shying away from the statement  and instead inviting Bardem to expand on his views.

Meanwhile, best supporting actress Hannah Einbinder from “Hacks” used her victory speech to deliver a brief, but very much no-holds-barred statement that called for a free Palestine, slammed immigration raids in the US, and declared her support for the Philadelphia Eagles.


Tashas’ founder lauds Kingdom’s ‘appetite for authentic dining experiences’

Updated 56 min 58 sec ago
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Tashas’ founder lauds Kingdom’s ‘appetite for authentic dining experiences’

  • Saudi is ‘exciting’ location, says Natasha Sideris
  • Dining here is ‘deeply social and family-oriented’

DUBAI: With outposts in London, Dubai and South Africa, restaurant brand Tashas is making headway in Saudi Arabia with the recent opening of a branch in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District.

Founded in 2005 by South Africans Natasha Sideris and her brother Savva, the Riyadh cafe features a curated dinner menu alongside the brand’s well-known daytime offerings, as well as its largest cake display to date with over 25 options.

Jill Okkers is the culinary director. (Supplied)

Culinary director Jill Okkers said the Kingdom’s culture has played a key role in shaping the Riyadh menu. “Dining in Saudi Arabia is a deeply social and family-oriented experience, it’s about connection, generosity and shared moments,” she said.

The Riyadh cafe features a curated dinner menu alongside the brand’s well-known daytime offerings. (Supplied)

“That balance really comes down to staying true to our DNA while being open enough to let the local culture influence us in a meaningful way,” she added.

“In Saudi Arabia, we might work with local dates, spices or breads in ways that still feel distinctly Tashas — approachable, elegant and layered with nostalgia.”

Culinary director Jill Okkers said the Kingdom’s culture has played a key role in shaping the Riyadh menu. (Supplied)

Discussing the new location, CEO and founder Sideris said recently: “Since the opening of Flamingo Collection in Bujairi Terrace, alongside our partners, Janiya, we had been looking for a location for our first Tashas.”

She said that KAFD was the “most aligned in terms of an entry into the market.”

Tashas was founded in 2005 by South Africans Natasha Sideris and her brother Savva. (Supplied)

Sideris added that each branch is tailored to its setting. “We’ve always followed a simple formula: every Tashas is 75 percent the same and 25 percent unique.

“The Kingdom is such an exciting region for us; there’s an appetite for authentic dining experiences, and we see considerable potential to grow here in a meaningful way.”