Jennifer Lawrence gave an impassioned speech at the San Sebastian Film Festival where she spoke out against what she termed an “unacceptable genocide.” Fans were, however, quick to remind her that not too long ago she was among the very group of celebrities who were celebrating the silencing of people calling the Gaza war a genocide.
The only reason Lawrence was caught up in the whirlwind in the first place was in support of her friend and collaborator Amy Schumer. Schumer has been quite vocal in her support of Israel’s military operation in Gaza, with a focus on the release of the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. However, some fans came to understand Schumer’s stance as one that supports war in general and the unfortunate conditions in Gaza right now. Schumer told Variety, “It’s gotten to this place, where you can’t speak up for other Jews without people feeling like it’s a slight to the conditions in Gaza.”
Schumer did reiterate to the publication that she would simply want a return to normalcy where the victims are back home and the war is over. But the nuance was the people critiquing her wanted a ceasefire first and foremost to stop the bloodshed. It’s not clear whether Lawrence understood the nuance of Schumer’s critics’ argument, but she decided to stand up for her friend, saying, “Amy’s choice to use her voice to speak for justice puts her under immense fire. I wouldn’t say she navigates it so much as she throws her middle fingers up and walks away from negative comments like a gas station fire in a Michael Bay movie.”
When the word got to X, criticism of Lawrence’s statement could not be ignored. Some fans felt it was a betrayal because they grew up with her as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games franchise, and those movies in particular followed regular people standing up to an authoritarian regime. Some fans thought that Lawrence also held similar egalitarian beliefs.
this can't be the same Jennifer Lawrence who played Katniss Everdeen in FOUR Hunger Games films… pic.twitter.com/tHxEPHjakA
— luca (@LucaGuadagnegro) April 30, 2024
However, that was one year ago. Since then the UN itself has declared the war in Gaza has the semblance of a genocide. Actors have also united to declare that they will not do collaborations with the Israeli film industry until they first end the war in Gaza. But Lawrence was quiet until she was asked the question at a film festival, where she too admitted that she now sees it as a “genocide.”
“What’s happening is no less than a genocide & unacceptable.”
— The Resonance (@Partisan_12) September 26, 2025
Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence spoke up for Palestine at the San Sebastian film festival press conference today pic.twitter.com/HoRDsuw60x
The reception of that admission was mixed: one user said that as much as she wants growth in everyone, why must actors only speak now when their careers are no longer at risk. Another user criticized the amount of time it took before celebrities even decided to use their voice to speak out. But there was also another side to this, as Israeli government officials also started criticizing Jennifer Lawrence, alleging that she probably can’t even point out Gaza on a map.
No forgiveness unless she explicitly addresses her past stance and names Isr*el as the oppressor.
— missy ☽̶☾ (@quarterqueller) September 27, 2025
As much as I want people to change and grow, I’m so wary of them choosing to do it now when so much slaughter has already happened and they don’t have to risk their careers. https://t.co/evlTPzJ8pt
Let’s hold off on deifying celebrities that have waited so long to come to reality.
— Millennial Father (@ClintChenny) September 26, 2025
Stop putting these people on a pedestal. Has the last decade not shown us that these people are as brain dead as anyone else.
Their celebrity means nothing. I’m glad they have a platform to…
I doubt Jennifer Lawrence could even point to the Gaza Strip on a map.
— Yaki Lopez🎗️ (@YakiLopez) September 27, 2025
In situations like this — there will always be a difference in the time people understand the full complexities of a situation. It takes great courage to admit your initial perspective was wrong, especially in the digital age when you know people can easily find exactly what you were saying before.
Published: Sep 27, 2025 12:36 pm