Trending Now - Cannes Juror Paul Laverty Criticizes Hollywood's Blacklisting of Anti-war Actors
WHO:
The Hollywood Reporter - Park Chan-wook is chairing this year’s Cannes jury, which includes members such as Isaach De Bankolé and Laura Wandel.
Deadline - Demi Moore emphasized the importance of free speech in the arts during the Cannes jury press conference.
Variety - Paul Laverty, Cannes jury member
Deadline - Paul Laverty, Cannes winning scribe, along with jury members Demi Moore, Stellan Skarsgård, Ruth Negga, and Chloe Zhao
Variety - Susan Sarandon, Javier Bardem, and Mark (last name not specified)
WHAT:
The Hollywood Reporter - Paul Laverty criticized the industry's embrace of AI, stating, “What seems to me to be absolutely incredible... is that they assume the rest of the world will follow and swallow it, no matter what the consequences are.”
The Hollywood Reporter - Laverty expressed concern about the impact of AI on workers, saying, “What’s the effect on workers — beyond artists, ordinary workers — in our society and for our children?”
Deadline - Paul Laverty stated, “They’re the best of us,” referring to actors like Susan Sarandon who oppose the war in Gaza.
Variety - Laverty criticized the blacklisting of actors, specifically naming Javier Bardem and Mark (last name not specified) alongside Susan Sarandon.
Deadline - Demi Moore stated, “If we start censoring ourselves then I think we shut down the very core of our creativity.”
Variety - Paul Laverty criticized Hollywood for blacklisting actors who oppose the war in Gaza, specifically mentioning Susan Sarandon.
Deadline - Laverty stated, “Shame on Hollywood” for its actions against these actors.
WHERE:
Variety - Cannes Film Festival
WHEN:
Variety - The Cannes jury will announce the Palme d’Or winner on Saturday, May 23.
Variety - The character of Susan Sarandon in "Thelma & Louise" is featured on the official 2026 Cannes poster.
WHY:
Variety - Hannah Einbinder expressed frustration over Hollywood's silence on the war in Gaza, stating, “It pisses me off. Because I’m sitting here with [Algerian-Palestinian activist] Mahmoud [Khalil], who has so much to risk and who has risked so much.”
Variety - Laverty's criticism stems from the perceived injustice of blacklisting actors for their anti-war stance.
HOW:
The Hollywood Reporter - Laverty emphasized the need for transparency and democracy in the ownership of AI technologies, stating, “We must demand, I think, that it’s made transparent and more democratic.”
Variety - Laverty expressed his views during the festival's jury press conference.
(UPDATED May 13, 2026 09:49 UTC)
Park Chan-wook is set to chair this year’s Cannes jury, which features notable members like Isaach De Bankolé and Laura Wandel. Meanwhile, Paul Laverty has voiced strong criticism regarding the film industry's growing reliance on AI, questioning the broader implications for workers and future generations. He stressed the importance of transparency and democracy in the ownership of AI technologies, urging that these systems should be made more accessible and accountable.
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(UPDATED May 13, 2026 04:16 UTC)
Paul Laverty praised actors like Susan Sarandon for their opposition to the war in Gaza, stating, “They’re the best of us.” He also criticized the blacklisting of actors, specifically mentioning Javier Bardem and another actor named Mark, alongside Sarandon. In other news, the Cannes jury is set to announce the Palme d’Or winner on Saturday, May 23.
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(UPDATED May 12, 2026 17:40 UTC)
Demi Moore highlighted the significance of free speech in the arts during a press conference for the Cannes jury, emphasizing that censorship can stifle creativity. She stated, “If we start censoring ourselves then I think we shut down the very core of our creativity.” Meanwhile, Hannah Einbinder voiced her frustration over Hollywood's silence regarding the war in Gaza, saying, “It pisses me off. Because I’m sitting here with [Algerian-Palestinian activist] Mahmoud [Khalil], who has so much to risk and who has risked so much.”
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(UPDATED May 12, 2026 15:54 UTC)
At the Cannes Film Festival, jury member Paul Laverty criticized Hollywood for blacklisting actors who oppose the war in Gaza, specifically calling out Susan Sarandon. He stated, “Shame on Hollywood” during the festival's jury press conference, highlighting the perceived injustice faced by these actors. Notably, the character of Susan Sarandon in "Thelma & Louise" is featured on the official 2026 Cannes poster, adding to the significance of Laverty's remarks.