Actor Javier Bardem attends the press conference for <The Beloved> at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on the 17th (local time). AFP-Yonhap

Spanish actor Javier Bardem criticized what he called the "toxic masculinity" of U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a cause of war.

According to AFP and dpa, Bardem, attending the 79th Cannes Film Festival, said at a press conference on the 17th (local time) that the character he plays in his new film is "a figure that exemplifies 'toxic masculinity'." This refers to a mindset in which a man sees himself as dominant and controlling, that is, the driving force that leads the world. Bardem plays a dogmatic film director who clashes with his daughter in Rodrigo Sorogoyen's film <The Beloved>. The film premiered at Cannes the previous day.

He said, "I am 57, and I come from Spain, where a machismo culture is strong," adding, "In Spain, an average of two women a month are killed by ex-husbands or ex-boyfriends. It is truly horrific." He pointed out, "These killings are happening because some men regard women as property."

Bardem added that this "toxic masculinity" also applies to "Trump, Putin, and Netanyahu," saying, "Their attitude is like, 'I am stronger, so I will smash you.' This kind of masculinity is causing thousands of deaths."

Bardem has been one of the most vocal actors on the Gaza war triggered by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack. In September last year, he joined a declaration labeling Israel's assault on Gaza as genocide and vowing not to work with Israeli film institutions involved. He also said that genocide is still being perpetrated, adding, "If you justify it through silence or support, you are endorsing genocide."

In an interview with AFP the previous day, he said, "Some people might worry that offers will decrease, but that is not the case for me. On the contrary, I am getting more calls." As for the reason, he explained, "Because the narrative around the conflict is changing."