Free Palestine protester disrupts Film Independent Spirit Awards

The protester made for some very awkward acceptance speeches.

The real world intruded on Hollywood as a "Free Palestine" protestor interrupted the Film Independent Spirit Awards.

Jim Gaffigan had just taken the stage to present Best Ensemble Cast when a man's voice started booming through the tent at the Santa Monica Pier. Gaffigan solidered on, eventually having to yell over the man's voice to announce the winner, Jury Duty.

According to EW staff in attendance at the Spirit Awards, the protestor was one man with a bullhorn outside of the tent, yelling, "Long live Palestine! Cease fire now! Free Palestine!" as seen in the video above.

Awards show organizers pulled up a shuttle bus to try to block the protestor and some of the noise. Inside the tent, Bryant tried to power through a truly terribly-timed bit featuring some scantily-clad beach bums, in reference to the show's Santa Monica location.

"We're at the beach and we're exercising free speech," she said, later referencing the "forced fun" they were all having, just like a real beach party.

The noise outside continued as presenters and winners either acknowledged or ignored it. Presenter Jimmy O. Yang made reference to the "heckler," though he couldn't hear what he was saying, adding that as someone used to independent filmmaking, someone yelling in his ear felt "like home."

Babak Jalali, director of John Cassavetes Award winner Fremont, noted that what the protester was saying outside was "far more important" than what he was going to say and later admitted that he was flustered because he was so inspired "by what they're saying," eliciting applause from the audience.

Awards shows, particularly awards show speeches, are typically the bastion for socially-conscious posturing, but this awards season has been rather tame with the decidedly wild times during which it's taking place. But that protestor was a sobering reminder to attendees and viewers at home alike.

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Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.