Javier Bardem, “Toxic Masculinity from Trump, Putin, and Netanyahu Fueled the War” — Candid Statement

“Toxic Masculinity” takes aim at “Javier Bardem”

The globally renowned actor “Javier Bardem” from Spain unleashed sharp criticism aimed at “Donald Trump”, the U.S. president; “Vladimir Putin”, the Russian president; and “Benjamin Netanyahu”, the prime minister of Israel. It was a heavy rebuke that their “toxic masculinity” is the root cause of wars and tragedies around the world.

According to the news agency AFP, on the 17th (local time) Bardem attended the press conference for the “79th Cannes Film Festival”. He defined flaws in the character he plays in his new work as “toxic masculinity”, making that remark. He pointed out that this kind of mindset pushes men to commit violence and, further, becomes the driving force behind “war” between countries.

At the Cannes Film Festival, Bardem took on the role of a self-righteous film director with explosive temper in his new film “Lovers”, directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen. The work received overwhelming praise from critics right after its first public unveiling at the festival the previous day.

At the press conference, he strongly criticized the idea, saying, “This ‘toxic masculinity’ applies just as exactly to ‘Trump’, ‘Putin’, and ‘Netanyahu’.” He added that “an arrogant attitude like ‘I’m superior to you, and I’ll crush you’ is producing thousands of ‘innocent victims’.”

Condemning “genocide” yet firmly holding his ground… a shifting “global community narrative”

Bardem is widely regarded as one of the film-industry figures who has spoken up the most vigorously about the “Gaza war” that began in October 2023. Last September, he characterized Israel’s attack on Gaza as “genocide” and declared that he would refuse collaboration with related organizations. On this day as well, he raised the intensity of his criticism to its highest point, saying, “To justify it through silence or support is an act of endorsing ‘genocide’.”

He also took a firm stance on the impact political candid remarks might have on his standing in the film industry. In an interview conducted the day before, he said, “Some actors worry that casting offers will decrease, but in my case it’s completely the opposite,” adding that “instead, there were even more messages contacting me.” His assessment is that this is because the “global community narrative” about how to view the conflict is changing.

This is in contrast to the stance taken by some ‘Hollywood figures’, including Susan Sarandon, who complained that they suffered disadvantages in the industry after joining statements condemning Israel, and it is drawing attention both inside and outside the film world.