Mumbai: A clip showing actor Saif Ali Khan and film critic Anupama Chopra laughing after Saif referenced Javier Bardem’s “Free Palestine” comment at the Oscars has drawn widespread criticism online.
The exchange occurred during an interview in which Chopra said she often uses a particular Bardem quote when interviewing actors. Before naming him, Saif interjected: “Is it ‘Free Palestine’?” Chopra laughed and Saif joined in; He later clarified that the quote he was referring to was different.
The brief moment, which Saif featured, was widely shared on social media and sparked the ire of users who said the comment trivialized a slogan linked to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Critics argued that turning the phrase into a joke was insensitive, given reports of numerous civilian casualties, mass displacement and damage to infrastructure in the conflict.
Some viewers singled out Chopra for laughing, while others criticized Saif for making the reference. Supporters of Bardem’s stance say “Free Palestine” has become a call for human rights and the protection of civilians, making its casual use by public figures especially controversial.
Neither Saif Ali Khan nor Anupama Chopra have issued a public statement in response to the backlash.