Hannah Einbinder Breaks Silence on Emmys Speech Backlash: "I Refuse to Apologize for Demanding Justice"

On Sunday night, Hannah Einbinder, the openly bisexual co-star of HBO’s hit comedy "Hacks," took the stage at the 2025 Emmy Awards to accept her first Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. As her emotional speech concluded, Einbinder declared, “Go Birds, f—k ICE, and free Palestine,” a statement that was partly censored on the live broadcast but quickly spread across social media in its unedited form .

The remarks, especially the explicit criticism of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the call to “free Palestine,” immediately went viral, drawing intense reactions from both supporters and detractors. While some praised Einbinder’s courage to use her platform for activism, others—including government officials—condemned her words as inappropriate and divisive .

Einbinder’s speech stood out not only for its political content but also for her visibility as a bisexual woman and advocate for marginalized communities. LGBTQ+ media and activists emphasized the significance of her remarks, noting that other winners at the ceremony largely avoided political statements, especially regarding issues like Palestine and immigration enforcement .

Throughout the night, subtle signals of solidarity—such as a red pin on Einbinder’s dress representing support for Palestine—were visible, but few celebrities spoke so explicitly. “No other winner speeches of the evening had the same political teeth to them as Einbinder’s,” wrote a columnist for Autostraddle, highlighting her willingness to break the silence on contentious topics .

The significance of Einbinder’s speech is amplified by her role on "Hacks," where she portrays a bisexual character—a rarity in mainstream media that has been praised for its authentic LGBTQ+ representation .

Following the broadcast, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a statement expressing concern over Einbinder’s comments about ICE, alleging that such rhetoric “undermines the work of law enforcement professionals” and “could endanger public safety” . While civil liberties organizations defended her right to free expression, critics on social media and in some political circles accused Einbinder of disrespecting government agencies and inflaming sensitive geopolitical debates.

Supporters, however, rallied behind Einbinder, using hashtags like #FreePalestine and #AbolishICE to amplify her message. LGBTQ+ advocacy groups pointed to the historical importance of queer artists speaking out against state violence and supporting immigrant and refugee communities .

In a follow-up remarks, Einbinder stated, "I thought it was important to talk about Palestine because it's an issue that's very dear to my heart. I have friends in Gaza who are working as frontline workers, as doctors right now in the north of Gaza to provide care for pregnant women and for school children to create schools in the refugee camps."

The comedian went on to say, "I feel 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, basically, institution that is really separate to this sort of ethnonationalist state."

A piece at Autostraddle praised Einbinder for speaking out, saying that she "was the only winner of the night to explicitly call for a free Palestine. It’s rarely the biggest, most famous, most platformed artists at these events taking a stand. So often it’s queer or otherwise marginalized artists using these events as a moment for visibility and advocacy for Palestinian liberation. Of course, it’s these artists who also stand the most to lose by saying something."

The pushback was not long in coming. Homeland Security official Tricia McLaughlin called Einbinder's comments "ugly" and accused her of "inspiring violence against our ICE law enforcement who are facing a 1,000% increase in assaults against them."

Added McLaughlin: "As this woman fans the flames of hatred, our brave law enforcement will continue enforcing the rule of law and protecting Americans."

The controversy has reignited longstanding debates about the intersection of celebrity, activism, and queer representation. Many have pointed out that LGBTQ+ entertainers—especially those from marginalized backgrounds—often face heightened scrutiny when they engage in political speech .

Activists argue that calls to “keep politics out of entertainment” have historically been used to silence voices advocating for justice, from HIV/AIDS activism in the 1980s to marriage equality campaigns and, now, opposition to state violence against immigrants and Palestinians .