At the Cannes Film Festival press conference, Paul Laverty, a jury member and screenwriter, publicly criticized Hollywood for allegedly blacklisting actors who have voiced their opposition to the violence in Gaza. He specifically mentioned Susan Sarandon, Javier Bardem, and Mark Ruffalo, expressing solidarity with them and condemning the industry's actions. Laverty's comments came in the wake of Sarandon's claims that she faced professional repercussions for advocating a ceasefire in Gaza, including being dropped by her agency. He remarked on the irony of celebrating diversity at a festival while acknowledging the ongoing violence and genocide in Gaza. The jury for this year's festival includes prominent figures such as Park Chan-wook, Demi Moore, and Chloé Zhao.