Hugh Bonneville goes guerilla with Gaza message on Downton red carpet

ITV reported Helen Keenan got more than she asked for (literally) on the red carpet for Downton Abbey’s new film. Hugh Bonneville, who plays family patriarch Lord Grantham on the show, used the opportunity to talk about Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.

X (Twitter) user Lorna_TVeditor went viral with a clip:

When asked about his upcoming film, Hugh Bonneville appeared to start his answer perfectly normally. Then, picking up the pace so that he couldn’t be cut off, the actor masterfully switched topic:

Before I talk about the fluff and loveliness of our wonderful film, what’s about to happen in Gaza City is indefensible, the international community must do more to bring it to an end.

Downton Abbey is a lovely film, and we’re going to celebrate 15 glorious years of it tonight. It’s a grand finale, and we had a great time making it, and it’s a great love letter to the fans.

Some X users chose to focus on the startled look on the reporter’s face when Bonneville kicked off:

Others admired the expertise with which Hugh Bonneville sandwiched his message between the ‘fluff’:

Often with a round of applause thrown in for good measure:

And finally, there were calls for other celebs to follow the actor’s example and put their platforms to good use:

Complicity, after all, is silence:

With broadcasters like ITV and the BBC growing ever more cowardly in their censorship of pro-Palestinian causes, Hugh’s guerilla messaging is a masterclass in getting the word out on these major platforms. If that happens to call attention to their complicity while we’re at it, well, we’re not going to complain.

Who better to talk to than Hugh Bonneville indeed?

Featured image via the Canary