- Attendees of the 96th Oscars were seen exiting their vehicles as pro-Palestine protestors crowded the street in Los Angeles
- The singer-songwriter posted a faceless photo to Instagram, simply captioned ‘traffic’
- The award ceremony itself began five minutes late due to the gridlock
The Oscars ceremony was delayed by five minutes as Hollywood’s biggest stars abandoned their vehicles due to pro-Palestine protesters blocking their route.
Video posted to X, formerly Twitter, showed activists blocking the roads leading to the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles where the 96th Academy Awards are being held on Sunday.
Protesters were seen at the intersection of Highland Avenue and De Longpre Avenue, prompting a line of black Escalades to stop dead in their tracks.
One protestor displayed a sign reading ‘The Oscars sponsored by baby killers,’ while another sign read ‘Hollywood’s silence is violence.’
Singer-songwriter Ariana Grande took to Instagram, posting a faceless photo of her diamond-encrusted necklace and frilly pink dress with the caption ‘traffic.’
Attendees of the 96th Oscars were seen exiting their vehicles in Los Angeles amid pro-Palestine protests
Singer-songwriter Ariana Grande posted a faceless photo to Instagram, simply captioned ‘traffic’
The award ceremony began five minutes late as a result of the traffic
Advocates linked arms and took up a chant, calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Los Angeles Police Department officers ran towards the scene, where protestors shouting and beating drums.
Riot police ushered protestors away from the intersection. As they continued to chant, stalled vehicles began to pass through.
Production staffers and publicists on the red carpet expressed a ‘growing sense of anxiety’ due to the gridlock, Variety reported.
Hordes of celebrities made an appearance as the Oscars pre-show drew to a close. The ceremony itself began five minutes late.
One protestor held a sign reading ‘Hollywood’s silence is violence’
A crowd stood at the intersection of Highland Avenue and De Longpre Avenue, blocking the path to the Dolby Theater
The protest was organized by a coalition of artists and film workers in collaboration with Writers Against the War on Gaza LA, Film Workers for Palestine, SAG-AFTRA Members for Ceasefire and other groups.
Ahead of the demonstration, Film Workers for Palestine published a statement on social media in conjunction with Jewish Voice for Peace’s Los Angeles chapter.
‘We will not be distracted by the entertainment industry,’ the post read, urging people to meet at the Cinerama Dome at 1pm PT.
‘We WILL continue to call for a permanent ceasefire and Palestinian liberation. Let’s mobilize and take the streets to show that we refuse to look away from this ongoing genocide! Ceasefire NOW!’