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Hollywood celebs blast Trump's travel ban at 2017 SAG Awards

Hollywood celebs blast Trump's travel ban at 2017 SAG Awards

“We will get past the lies, we will hunt monsters,” said David Harbour, a cast member of the series, Stranger Things
30 Jan, 2017

There's a certain honesty that The Screen Actors Guild Awards epitomise.

These are accolades given to Hollywood actors by their peers; you can either look at them as self-appreciation or as artists recognising the best in their field and giving credit where credit is due.

This year, the awards were particularly a treat to watch. In speech after politically charged speech on Sunday night, the winners struck a defiant tone against Trump's sweeping travel ban.

Kerry Washington of Scandal fame kicked off the show with words of wisdom: “A lot of people are saying right now that actors shouldn’t express their opinions when it comes to politics but the truth is, actors are activists no matter what, because we embody the worth and humanity of all people.”

Ashton Kutcher, who opened the show added, “Good evening, fellow SAG-AFTRA members and everyone at home — and everyone in airports that belong in my America. You are a part of the fabric of who we are, and we love you and we welcome you.” The issue rings close to home for Kutcher, whose wife Mila Kunis came to the United States of America from Ukraine on a refugee visa when she was a child.

Ashton Kutcher opens the show with remarks on travel ban —Photo courtesy: CBS News
Ashton Kutcher opens the show with remarks on travel ban —Photo courtesy: CBS News

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who bagged the award for best actress in a comedy series for Veep seconded the sentiment: "My father fled religious persecution in Nazi-occupied France. I’m an American patriot. And I love this country, and because I love this country, I am horrified by its blemishes, and this immigrant ban is a blemish, and it is un-American.”

The most blistering speech though was by David Harbour, who led the cast of Netflix's Stranger Things on stage to accept best ensemble in a TV drama series.

"We are united in that we are all human beings and we are all together on this horrible, painful, joyous, exciting and mysterious ride that is being alive. Now, as we act in the continuing narrative of Stranger Things, we 1983 Midwesterners will repel bullies, we will shelter freaks and outcasts, those who have no homes. We will get past the lies. We will hunt monsters."

"And when we are at a loss amidst the hypocrisy and the casual violence of certain individuals and institutions we will, as per Chief Jim Hopper, punch some people in the face when they seek to destroy the weak and the disenfranchised and the marginalized and we will do it with soul, with heart and with joy. We thank you for this responsibility. Thank you," he added.

The speech had his co-star Winona Ryder experiencing every human emotion in the span of 20 seconds.

Here's the full list of winners:

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE

Hidden Figures

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Emma Stone, La La Land

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Denzel Washington, Fences

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Viola Davis, Fences

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Mahershala Ali, Moonlight

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES

Stranger Things

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES

Sarah Paulson, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES

Bryan Cranston, All the Way

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Claire Foy, The Crown

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

John Lithgow, The Crown

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES

Orange Is the New Black

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

William H. Macy, Shameless

OUTSTANDING ACTION PERFORMANCE BY A STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A TELEVISION SERIES

Game of Thrones

OUTSTANDING ACTION PERFORMANCE BY A STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

Hacksaw Ridge

SCREEN ACTORS GUILD LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Lily Tomlin

Comments

Asif Kidwai Jan 30, 2017 08:25pm
This is what I call TRUE American Spirit, those who dare to challenge the tides and stand with the humanity. A good lesson for those who are happy to see others in misery because what they are truly down deep. I salute these people for standing up for strangers and most of all, I am sure you will not find any comments from any Indian here at all.
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anony Jan 30, 2017 10:06pm
Well said Asif.
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