PC: CNN News
On Sunday Jan. 29, 2017 celebrities dressed up for the 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) in Los Angeles. Hollywood was ready to celebrate the year’s most outstanding performances from television and film.
According to USA Today, “As opposed to awards like the Oscars, where voting members of the Academy can work in many departments of cinema, SAG voters are all actors. So winning a SAG Award is an esteemed acknowledgement from fellow members of the acting community. Awards go to individuals and ensembles.”
“Politics and current events hung over this year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, but the stars made it their business to address the world’s injustices and call for unity in what had to be the most politically-charged awards show in recent memory” reported Entertainment Tonight.
Here are what many of the stars had told CNN News about the current situation:
Ashton Kutcher, speaking of the immigration ban set by President Donald Trump, said, “You are a part of the fabric of who we are. And we love you and we welcome you.”
Taraji P. Henson, speaking on the topic of women from her movie Hidden Figures, said “Love wins every time,” said Henson, who then added “these women are hidden figures no more.”
Asghar Farhadi, the director of “The Salesman,” which has been nominated for the Oscar for best foreign-language film, has said he will not attend this year’s Academy Awards in protest against the [immigration ban of seven predominantly Muslim countries.]
But the most emotional moment of the night, was given by Mahershala Ali an actor in Moonlight, who after winning the most outstanding performance by a male actor in a supporting role shared “that his mother is an ordained minister who was not thrilled when he converted to Islam 17 years ago. But I tell you, now, you put things to the side and I’m able to see her and she’s able to see me. We love each other, Ali said. The love has grown. And that stuff is minutia. It’s not that important.”
ICYMI below are the categories and winners of the night:
Movie Actor Winner: Denzel Washington, Fences
Movie Actress Winner: Emma Stone, La LA Land
Supporting Actor Winner: Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Supporting Actress Winner: Viola Davis, Fences
Best Cast Winner: Hidden Figures
Actor in a drama series Winner: John Lithgow, The Crown
Actress in a drama series Winner: Claire Foy, The Crown
Actor in a comedy series Winner: William H. Macy, Shameless
Actress in a comedy series Winner: Julia Louis Dreyfus, Veep
Ensemble in a drama series Winner: Stranger Things
Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: Lily Tomlin
Even though the night was filled with fun and laughter, many actors and actresses took the opportunity to address the controversial immigration ban set by President Trump.
However, not every part of the night was heavy and politically filled. The night was packed with hilarious acceptance speeches, reaction faces, and unexpected wins throughout the night.