By now, you may have seen the pictures from the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival. With a beautiful smile, Cate Blanchett tossed out the train of her handmade black Haider Ackerman gown to expose a startling strip of green. This, along with the red carpet, honored the Palestinian flag in a subtle yet impactful way.
Blanchett and Ackerman’s statement caught attention despite Cannes’ preemptive prohibition on protests related to Palestine during the 11-day event, serving as a reminder to all that fashion can be a potent tool for social protest.Reactions to Blanchett’s daring wardrobe choice were divided. Though there were a few critical remarks, netizens’ reactions were generally enthusiastic. “She basically upstaged the event in such a clever way, making the event itself commit to a statement with the red carpet,” said one Instagram user. She has always been outspoken, so this is a kind and appreciated gesture. “I was looking for the red in her dress, but I just realized it’s the carpet,” another person said. Wonderful!Nonetheless, some people questioned the dress’s actual purpose due to its subtlety. Numerous commenters surmised that the color scheme was accidental, with one saying, “This doesn’t seem like a pro-Palestinian outfit.” It’s pale pink, green, and black. Has she made a statement confirming this? Although I would love for this to be a deliberate act of protest, the light pink dress in the back tells me that the colors are not Palestinian. One more person merely said, “I don’t think this quite counts.”
Although some people applauded Blanchett’s decision, others thought it was insufficient. There was discussion on the internet about whether small gestures were sufficient. “Please stop making assumptions and praising the minimal efforts celebrities make,” one person remarked. Another said, “Even though she spoke up earlier, subtlety is unacceptable after seven months.” Solidarity must be expressed clearly and loudly.
Instead of creating two opposing camps on the internet, Blanchett’s declaration generated three diverse points of view: a third applauding her decision, a third doubting the meaning behind the colors, and a third calling for more overt acts of solidarity.
Blanchett has long championed the suffering of people in Gaza by using her position. She recently spoke to the European Parliament’s Plenary Session as a UN Refugee Agency Goodwill Ambassador, urging a “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza.
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