Javier Bardem Shares Petition to Remove Pink from UNICEF

Spanish actor Javier Bardem, 57, shared multiple posts on his Instagram account Monday calling for singer Pink to be removed from her position as a UNICEF ambassador. The move follows Pink's criticism of rapper Macklemore, who turned his opening performance for Ed Sheeran into a pro-Palestinian political rally.

Bardem, who has 1.5 million followers, shared the petition encouraging his audience to sign it. The petition states that "Pink's recent statements are not only disappointing but also inconsistent with her role as a UNICEF Ambassador, someone expected to promote peace, understanding, and humanitarian values above personal biases."

The Controversy That Started in New Jersey

The firestorm erupted after Macklemore took the stage as Ed Sheeran's opening act at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he called to "free Palestine" from the stage while images from the war in Gaza played in the background. Pink responded by sharing a post from StopAntisemitism that accused the rapper of "anti-Israel propaganda." She also shared memes with messages including: "A clown's job is to please everyone."

The Jewish singer later published a detailed thousand-word statement on social media explaining why she chose to speak out against Macklemore. In her explanation, she noted that she has served as a UNICEF ambassador for a decade and has met children born into the reality of war. "I was born Jewish, I didn't choose that," Pink wrote, emphasizing the personal place from which she responded.

The Petition: "Take Decisive Action"

The petition Bardem shared states that "UNICEF's mission is to protect the rights and dignity of all children, regardless of political affiliation or geographic boundaries. We trust ambassadors to be torchbearers of these principles, foster inclusive dialogue, and promote meaningful support."

The petition goes on to call on UNICEF to "take decisive action and remove Pink from her role as ambassador. This step would reaffirm UNICEF's commitment to neutrality and its dedication to all children, regardless of nationality or heritage."

Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour after venues scheduled to host the concerts announced they would cancel the shows if he continued as the opening act. The decision sparked a wave of withdrawals from other artists who were scheduled to perform with Sheeran, including singer Finneas and Irish singer Roan.