The Oscars 2023 was a show of wealth, glamor, and achievements in the industry of film and television. But in recent years, the platform, which has become globally recognized and universally accepted as the highest prestige accorded, is also being approached as a platform to make a socio-political statement in times of crisis and calamity. This year, the crowd milling about on the venue for a snap of the stars and honorees walking the red carpet found many among the Hollywood icons arriving with one common accessory attached to their lapels, dresses, necklines, or fingers. A blue ribbon.
Significance of the Blue Ribbon at the Oscars 2023
For almost half a century, an object as simple as a ribbon has taken to mean greatly significant things. Be it shifts in socio-cultural movements or a show of solidarity, ribbons have come to hold and advocate awareness about subjects like cancer (lavender), environmental issues (green), AIDS (red), racial tolerance (orange), and the right to life and free speech (white).
This year, with the drastically rising refugee crisis that is being witnessed in Europe and the Middle East, born of displacement, persecution, war, and conflict, celebrities have taken to wearing a blue ribbon pin at the Oscars 2023 to show their support to and stand in solidarity with the refugees across the globe.
Hollywood Celebrities Make a Statement at Oscars 2023
The United Nations Refugee Agency’s Coalition has recently launched a #WithRefugees initiative and the blue pins were created as an accessory to be worn to show the people’s solidarity for displaced and war-torn refugees around the world. The Oscars – a platform with an overarching reach and a million-strong audience – then provides an important opportunity for celebrities to use their place to promote awareness of current and critical issues.
Jamie Lee Curtis, who won an Academy Award in the Best Supporting Actress category this year for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once claimed via PA Media:
“My friend Cate Blanchett is asking people to remind us all in the midst of all the season of shiny things that, of course, there are terrible refugee crises going on all over the world everywhere all at once, and we need to do our part.”
According to the UNHCR: “The wearing of the blue #WithRefugees ribbon on the red carpet sends a powerful visual message that everyone has the right to seek safety, whoever, wherever, whenever.”
The statement was then definitively adopted by stars not only at the glitzy Oscars event but priorly at the BAFTAs as well. Cate Blanchett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Bill Nighy, Angela Bassett, Paul Mescal, Sophie Turner, Colin Farrell, and Daryl McCormack were among the few who proudly stuck the blue ribbon pins to their lapels and necklines.
Source: Today
