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