Regardless of your political stance, one could clearly see how the entertainment industry reflects the state of the political world. In the instance of the Emmys 2025, actors have utilized their speech to talk about current events in the political climate. According to NBCNews, Hannah Einbinder won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Ava Daniels in Hacks. She uses her first Emmy speech to make political remarks censored on television but heard through the audience there, “Go Birds, F— ICE, and free Palestine. Thank you”. She also wore an Artists4Ceasefire pin during the ceremony to symbolize solidarity with Gaza on live television, not only verbally but visually asserting her stance. In follow‑up statements, Einbinder elaborated on the personal weight of her message by explaining the importance of speaking about Palestine. As a Jewish woman herself with “friends in Gaza doing frontline work”, she emphasizes the need to “distinguish between religious/cultural identity and the policies/actions of the State of Israel”, separating Jewish identity from the actions of the Israeli state. This incident stands as a powerful example of how award shows like the Emmys can serve as a public platform to speak on political discourse. While some may view this as controversial or out of line, Einbinder’s speech reminds audiences that this two-way street of both art and politics are deeply intertwined.Â
The Performative nature of modern politics
Right off the bat, I’d like to point out how politics and theatre have far more in common than people often realize. At their core, both are performative acts using tactics to influence audiences, shape perception, and generate specific objectives. Politicians usually use language, tone, and body movement to manipulate the audience, since some of them come from theatrical backgrounds like Ronald Reagan or Arnold Schwarzenegger. Examples we’ve seen in the U.S. are censorship, propaganda, and rebellions that are driven by a certain theatrical act. After all, theatre once served as a public square for dissent ever since Ancient Greece to the 20th century. In today’s media technological advancement, the performative nature of politics has only intensified, often blurring the lines between political and theatrical spectacle. Politicians are usually expected to “play a role of authenticity”, embodying charisma, emotional appeal, and reliability for the sake of their policy rather than the policy themselves. This shift reframes how the public consumes both politics and performance. Audiences who are accustomed to the spectacle and drama of real-world politics, may approach traditional theatrical performances with a more critical or skeptical lens. Just as political figures perform to gain public favor, artists now often use the stage to highlight injustices, lift up marginalized voices, or push back against propaganda through their own crafted acts. This now brings the question, where does the performance aspect end, and the actual politics begin? Or are they now one in the same?
Who really holds the power of performance today?
Modern politicians have now become the performers, and theatre/entertainment often lacks the political reach it once had. As previously mentioned, politicians blend authenticity with theatrical performance as much as actors do. However, this dynamic could negatively impact how we interpret actors and theatrical performances today because actors are constantly watched by the public and are seen not only for their craft, but also for their political beliefs. This has led to a rise in performative activism—where public figures may adopt political stances to strengthen their personal brand or appear to have more “moral integrity”, even when their actions don’t follow through. Ironically, while actors may be criticized for seeming insincere in their political engagement, politicians often use theatrical techniques to appear more authentic, yet can come off as even more disingenuous. A way to combat this is as an audience member is to hold them accountable for following through, whether it’s a politician or a celebrity. This is why Einbinder and others who similarly gave up their platform to a political cause is so important because this goes beyond image and engages with real issues. Allowing artists to speak out at such a high-profile event reflects a growing movement within the entertainment industry toward genuine performance activism, where artists leverage their visibility to highlight humanitarian crises and challenge state power. Furthermore, the industry itself could embrace and uplift more politically charged theatrical works by spreading awareness to broader audiences. The Emmys don’t have to just be celebrations of artistic achievement, but a reflection of the cultural and political times.
When activism becomes art
We’re living in a time where history is documented on the daily and can be accessed daily through our phones and technological devices. Modern advocacy is heightened with higher stakes when you have a bigger audience. Thus, when celebrities use their privilege—both materially and symbolically—they model how performance can be used intentionally for greater impact. Today, we are no longer just passive citizens or audience members, but rather active participants in a narrative that has the power to shape the stories that get told. All in all, supporting the arts could be a means of staying politically aware and emotionally connected.
