Why are celebrities wearing blue ribbons at the Oscars?

The hottest accessory on the red carpet this year seems to be blue ribbons, and Oscars viewers are wondering why. Many celebrities are donning the ribbon in a public display of solidarity with refugees affected by the current global refugee crisis.

This comes as the UNHCR launches its #WithRefugees campaign, calling for international support from a variety of global actors and stakeholders.

“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 they are,” stated the UNHCR in a press release.

The campaign began on the red carpet at the 2023 BAFTAs, with a group of actors and Goodwill Ambassadors donning the blue ribbons in support. Notable names at the BAFTAs included Cate Blanchett, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Yursa Mardini.

The ribbons themselves are handcrafted and made by Knotty Tie Co., a US-based company with the mission to create more opportunities for refugee protection, employment, and advancement worldwide. What’s more – their products are made sustainably from recycled plastic water bottles.

Cate Blanchett takes a stand whilst sporting her #WithRefugees ribbon

Australian actress Cate Blanchett wore a blue ribbon not only to the 95th Oscars red carpet but to multiple awards shows this season. She was named a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNHCR back in 2016.

Blanchett spoke out about why the cause was so meaningful to her, and why more people should stand in solidarity with the world’s refugee populations.

“Whenever I have met refugees — in places such as Lebanon, Jordan or Bangladesh, in the UK, or back home in Australia — what has struck me has not been their ‘otherness’ but how many things we share in common,” the actress said in a heartfelt statement to the press.

Blanchett is nominated for Best Actress for her performance as Lydia Tár in the film Tár. She also commented on the power of film as a medium for the community.

“What I love about film is the way it draws us into compelling human themes to uncover the connective tissue that binds us all,” Blanchett shared.