Hannah Einbinder and Susan Sarandon were detained in New York City on September 24, 2026, while protesting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s appearance at the United Nations General Assembly. Video shared across social media showed the two actresses being led away in handcuffs, with SNL cast member Sarah Sherman also reportedly present at the rally outside UN Headquarters.
Einbinder addressed the arrest the following day on Instagram Stories, accusing the US government of welcoming“the butcher of Gaza”and framing the moment as a failure of both Republicans and Democrats. In her post, she asked that any attention drawn by the images of her and her friends in handcuffs be directed toward the war itself, writing,“Let us not mistake the spectacle for the story: genocide is the headline, and it is time for it to end.”Both Einbinder and Sarandon have been vocal advocates for Palestinians throughout the conflict.
The arrests have reignited a bigger conversation about celebrity activism, free speech, and whether public figures face real professional consequences for taking political stands. Hollywood has been visibly divided on this issue for years, and Einbinder’s statement ensures this moment stays in the cultural conversation well past the news cycle. Where do you land: does a famous face at a protest help the cause, or does it turn activism into a spectacle? Let us know in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.