‘East of Eden’ Star Florence Pugh Gets Candid About Gaza and Social Media in Her Vanity Fair Cover Story

Depositphotos

Share:

Florence Pugh has never shied away from speaking her mind, and her new Vanity Fair cover story is no exception. The actress covers the magazine’s October 2026 issue, which marks the return of The New Establishment, where she is celebrated as a Renaissance Woman alongside profiles of major figures across entertainment, tech, business, and politics.

The accompanying photos, shot by Nadine Ijewere, show Pugh in a striking metallic headpiece, but the interview itself has sparked just as much conversation. Among the topics she addressed was the ongoing war in Gaza, a subject she has discussed publicly before.

Pugh’s latest comments build on earlier public statements. In April 2025, she was among the signatories of a letter to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling on the government to end what the letter described as its complicity in Gaza, according to Variety.

RELATED:

Kevin Feige Hints Florence Pugh’s Yelena Will Anchor ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

Months later, in September 2025, she took the stage at the Together for Palestine fundraiser at OVO Arena Wembley in London, where she was introduced by fellow actor Riz Ahmed. In a short speech, she told the crowd that silence in the face of suffering is not neutrality, adding that empathy should never have been this hard and encouraging attendees to put pressure on governments.

In the new interview, Pugh reflected on how difficult it has been to watch the suffering continue while daily life moves on. “It’s still happening. Babies are still dying. Mothers are still in pain. It’s really horrible to be watching such pain when so much of our lives just seem to be moving forward,” she told Vanity Fair.

She also tied those feelings to her relationship with social media. “I think that’s what I’ve found so difficult about social media as well: How can I say I’m having a really good time when literally one scroll up, I’m looking at a baby that’s motherless and fatherless?” she said.

Pugh’s comments about social media echo past remarks about the online world. In a 2024 British Vogue interview, she described the internet as a very mean place and said reading negative comments about her body was really painful, as Sportskeeda reported.

In a 2023 Vanity Fair feature, she also discussed how being a role model has shifted from appearing flawless to being something more human, a change she said she loves, according to AOL. Her latest remarks show a different side of that tension, focusing less on criticism of herself and more on the discomfort of sharing everyday moments while grappling with difficult global news.

The cover story arrives during a major stretch for Pugh’s career. She currently stars in Netflix’s adaptation of John Steinbeck’s ‘East of Eden’, and she returns as Yelena Belova in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ on December 18.

In the same Vanity Fair issue, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige hinted that Yelena will serve as an anchor throughout the film, making Pugh one of the key faces of Marvel’s biggest release of the year.

Whether discussing body image, her craft, or global events, Pugh has consistently used her platform to speak candidly. Her Vanity Fair interview adds another layer to that reputation, arriving as she prepares for some of the highest-profile work of her career.

What do you think of Florence Pugh’s candid comments about Gaza and social media?

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!

Don't miss:

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted