‘Shut down the Oscars’: Mark Ruffalo shouts support for protesters

An Oscar nominee who was rushing to Hollywood’s night of nights shouted in support of the protesters who made him late.

As actor Mark Ruffalo showed up for the 96th Academy Awards he shouted his support for pro-Palestinian protesters who delayed some attendees and made him late.

Ruffalo, who was nominated for best supporting actor for his role in Poor Things, shouted at the press as he rushed past: “It’s starting. We’re late. We’re late. The Palestinian protest shut down the Oscars tonight. Humanity wins.”

The 56-year-old also wore a red Artists4Ceasefire pin calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

One reporter urged Ruffalo to answer one question about Gaza as he rushed to the event, with the actor stopping to quickly share his thoughts.

“We have to come to peace, we need peace, we need a ceasefire … we need hostages brought back, we need to stop killing children, we need a ceasefire,” he said.

Ruffalo said he would mention it at the ceremony if he won, but the Oscar went to Robert Downey Jr.

A minder herded Ruffalo away from the red carpet press, saying: “We have to go.”

Mark Ruffalo attended the 96th Annual Academy Awards wearing an Artists4Ceasefire pin. Picture: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

Protesters had caused traffic to stand still on Hollywood Boulevard, with Oscars attendees ditching their cars to continue to the Dolby Theatre on foot.

Los Angeles Times reported Lily Gladstone, who was nominated for best lead actress for her role in Killers of the Flower Moon, was spotted riding a golf cart to the theatre.

Captain Kelly Muniz, head of the Los Angeles Police Department’s media relations division,

told The New York Times that there were at least three protests about the war and were between 500 and 700 protesters at the largest demonstration.

A driver who tried to pass through an intersection on Hollywood Boulevard had his windshield broken when one demonstrator hurled a traffic cone at his car, according to AFP.

Videos showed protesters chanting “ceasefire now” and “free free free Palestine”.

One large banner directed at viewers read: “While you’re watching, bombs are dropping”.

Oscar winners Billie Eilish and Finneas also wore the pins calling for a ceasefire. Picture: Richard Harbaugh/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images

Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O’Connell, who won the Oscar for best song and performed at the ceremony, were among other stars who also wore the Artists4Ceasefire pins.

Hundreds of actors, filmmakers, and musicians have signed a letter to US President Joe Biden asking him and the US Congress to call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel.

“We are here to lend our voices and our platforms to amplify the global call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the safe return of all hostages, and the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to the civilians in Gaza,” the campaign’s website states.

Filmmaker and screenwriter Ava DuVernay, comedian and actor Ramy Youssef, model and actress Quannah Chasinghorse, and actor and rapper Riz Ahmed were also photographed wearing the pins.

Originally published as ‘Shut down the Oscars’: Mark Ruffalo shouts support for protesters