On Mother’s Day, a group of female Hollywood celebrities released an Instagram video calling for First Lady Jill Biden to push for a “permanent ceasefire” in Gaza. Entertainers such as Rosie O’Donnell, Cynthia Nixon, and Christine Baranski made emotional appeals in the video, urging Jill Biden to use her influence to intervene in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Despite their efforts, the celebrities failed to mention Hamas’ role in perpetuating the suffering of the Palestinian people, including holding U.S. citizens as hostages. The video, tagged with #artists4ceasefire, aimed to pressure the Biden administration for a ceasefire in Gaza. However, their appeals were criticized for being vague and emotional, with some references to “genocide” and “decimation” not accurately reflecting the situation on the ground. Israel has been providing essential goods to Gaza and assisting in civilian evacuations during the conflict. Celebrity activism on this issue has also been seen at events like the Academy Awards, where stars wore red lapel pins in support of the cause.
