Cannes Juror Paul Laverty Says ‘Shame on Hollywood’ for Blacklisting Susan Sarandon and More Actors Who Oppose War in Gaza: ‘They’re the Best of Us’

May 12, 2026 7:21am PT Cannes Juror Paul Laverty Says ‘Shame on Hollywood’ for Blacklisting Susan Sarandon and More Actors Who Oppose War in Gaza: ‘They’re the Best of Us’

By Zack Sharf

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Zack Sharf

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CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 12: Jury Members Laura Wandel and Paul Laverty speak during the Jury press conference at the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 12, 2026 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images)

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Cannes jury member Paul Laverty ended the festival’s jury press conference by slamming Hollywood for blacklisting actors such as Susan Sarandon who have spoken out against the war in Gaza. The Oscar winner, whose character in “Thelma & Louise” is on the official 2026 Cannes poster, went viral in February after revealing she lost her Hollywood agent after publicly calling for a ceasefire.

“Can I just leave one tiny thing?” Laverty said at the end of the press conference. “The Cannes Film Festival has a wonderful poster. Yes, and isn’t it fascinating to see some of them like Susan Sarandon, Javier Bardem, Mark Ruffalo blacklisted because of their views in opposing the murder of women and children in Gaza? Shame on Hollywood people who do that. My respect and total solidarity to them. They’re the best of us, I look up to them.”