Latest news with #WandaSykes
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wanda Sykes Urges Protection of Trans Community Amid Political Attacks: 'That's Our Fight'
Pride and power took center stage at the second annual Critics Choice Association Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television, where a diverse slate of performers — including Niecy Nash-Betts, Wanda Sykes, Bowen Yang, Liv Hewson and Tramell Tillman — were recognized for their standout contributions to film and television. Held Friday evening at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, the event honored over a dozen artists whose work has helped to expand representation, deepen storytelling and bring visibility to a wide range of LGBTQ+ experiences. Throughout the night, honorees reflected on their journeys, the significance of their characters and the value of creative freedom. More from The Hollywood Reporter 'American Psycho' Director Mary Harron Is Surprised by Movie's Lingering Relevance What Sold Gerard Butler on Reprising His Role in the Live-Action 'How to Train Your Dragon' Jane Rosenthal Champions Female and Nonbinary Filmmakers When the "Very Act of Us Speaking Up Feels Risky" at Chanel Tribeca Festival Luncheon In an uproarious and heartfelt speech, Emmy-winning actress Niecy Nash-Betts accepted the Groundbreaker Award for her work in FX's Grotesquerie, reflecting on a career that's redefined what leading ladies look and sound like. She brought the house down with a speech that was equal parts hilarious and heartfelt. 'I want to thank the utmost high for this divine queer moment,' Nash-Betts began, recalling her childhood dream. 'When I was five, I said, 'I want to be Black, fabulous and on TV.'' She went on to share a humorous nod to her real-life love story with wife Jessica Betts, saying, 'Fast forward, I went to eat crabs with the most beautiful soul I've ever met, and my clothes fell off. And here we are.' 'Being a groundbreaker — it's messy, it's loud,' she continued. 'Sometimes you're breaking it with your bare hands while the world watches with arms crossed and side-eyes. But you keep going, not for the applause, but for the impact. Okay, maybe a little for the applause.' Ending her speech with a sharp, unapologetic mic-drop, Nash-Betts delivered a message to her longtime doubters: 'Google me, bitch.' Comedy icon Wanda Sykes, known for her work across stand-up, film, and TV, including The Upshaws and Black-ish, was honored for her decades-long contributions to entertainment and activism. She accepted the Career Achievement Award with her signature blend of sharp wit and heartfelt truth that has defined her decades-long career. As she took the stage, Sykes riffed through the night's list of honorees in what felt like an impromptu stand-up set, congratulating each recipient with hilarious asides and off-the-cuff commentary that had the room roaring. But between the laughs, she delivered a pointed and powerful message about the urgent need to protect the transgender community, particularly trans youth, in the face of rising legislative attacks. 'We're dealing with parents trying to save their kids' lives,' Sykes said. 'And now they're faced with governments telling doctors they can't help. That's wrong. That's our fight.' 'I believe in love. I believe in what our community stands for,' she added. 'So we have to love harder, be louder, and protect each other.' In a surprise appearance, comedian Leslie Jones lit up the room while presenting the Reality TV Award to the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 17, delivering a tribute that was equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and deeply personal. 'I'm six feet tall, I'm loud, I got a big ass mouth, a big ass opinion. And I don't know if I thought that I was so attractive,' she said. 'This whole community has embraced me and made me like who I am. And I want to tell you … thank you for saving my life.' Jones ended with a powerful call to action: 'If we're not showing up for drag queens, for queer people, then what the fuck are we doing?' Yellowjackets star Liv Hewson received the Rising Star Award with a thoughtful message about representation, refusing to be boxed into gendered categories. 'I'm non-binary, and I no longer submit myself to awards that split categories by men and women,' Hewson said. 'This industry is a team sport — and so is life. Wherever we go, we're not going alone.' Recognized for his standout role in Severance, Tramell Tillman delivered a moving acceptance that underscored the emotional impact of representation. 'As a kid growing up in PG County, Maryland, I was looking for you when I didn't have the strength to stand on my own, to say my truth, and even tell anybody that I wanted to be an actor, ' he told the crowd. 'I never thought that I would be in a room full of people that reflect that mirror, that shimmer like me.' He added, 'It's one thing to be seen, but another to be heard. I hope young boys, girls, and those beyond the binary will be empowered … because I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you.' For her role in Marvel's Agatha All Along, Sasheer Zamata was honored with the Breakthrough Performance Award and reflected on how portraying a powerful witch mirrored her own personal transformation. 'It's funny — I was playing a witch regaining her power while I was on my own journey of self-discovery,' she shared. 'I came out publicly last year, baby. And they were right, it really does get better.' That spirit of humor as both resistance and survival echoed in fellow Saturday Night Live star Bowen Yang, who accepted the Comedy Award with trademark wit and insight. 'While I'm very honored to be receiving this, I do think a Comedy Award is the closest thing that queer people have to a participation trophy,' he quipped. 'I've never met a non-funny queer person.' Yang spoke about the emotional mechanics of comedy within queer communities: 'We learn to be funny because it's the way we relate to each other. It's how we cope with a world that can be inhospitable.' Michael Urie brought the theme of hard-won visibility into sharp focus during his acceptance of the Trailblazer Award for his work in Shrinking. Urie reflected on his legacy role as Marc St. James in Ugly Betty, one of the earliest openly gay characters on network television, and the tension of living authentically in an industry that didn't fully accept queerness at the time. 'When I came out, I walked a trail that had already been laid by people like Christine Jorgensen, James Baldwin, Harvey Milk, Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson, Harvey Fierstein,' Urie noted. 'I will take the label of Trailblazer — but let's be clear, the trail was there. I just cleared some brush along the way, more like a flamethrower.' He recalled the strangeness of a time when gay characters were allowed on screen, but gay actors were discouraged from living openly. 'I was told to stop taking gay roles. One was okay, but anymore would be too much. Well, I didn't take that advice.' Comedian Benito Skinner, who received the Rising Star Award for Prime Video's Overcompensating, reflected on the early spark that set him on his creative path long before he fully believed in himself. 'I remember when I was in preschool, I did a Mary Catherine Gallagher impression. It was so fucking good,' he joked. 'I wore an absolutely hideous wig and my sister's Catholic school skirt — that's also fabulous. Even through this really bad drag, my godmother, Herman, would tell me over and over, 'You have to perform one day. You're a star.'' Skinner credited his journey to people like her, those who saw something in him long before he did. 'They're the reason I'm standing here today.' Megan Stalter, who was recognized with a Breakthrough Performance Award for her scene-stealing work in Hacks, brought her signature absurdist charm to the stage while donning a crown and sash. 'I'm accepting this award for 'best gay actor of all time,'' she joked before offering a sincere plea: 'You can be Christian and gay. Being different is beautiful.' Nathan Lee Graham, honored with the Vanguard Award for Mid-Century Modern, brought elegance and fire to the stage, declaring, 'We are soldiers of love. Our weapons are joy, wit, and tenacity. Let's keep it cute, and let's keep it moving.' Additional honorees included Gideon Glick, who received the Supporting Performance Award in a Comedy Series, and Roadside Attractions co-founders Howard Cohen and Eric d'Arbeloff, who were honored with the Industry Leadership Award for their commitment to inclusive storytelling. The team behind Netflix's Will & Harper won the Documentary Award for their poignant and deeply personal trans-centered road film, while the cast of HBO's Somebody Somewhere earned the Ensemble Award for their grounded and moving portrayal of community and connection. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Harvey Weinstein's "Jane Doe 1" Victim Reveals Identity: "I'm Tired of Hiding" 'Awards Chatter' Podcast: 'Sopranos' Creator David Chase Finally Reveals What Happened to Tony (Exclusive)
CNN
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Wanda Sykes delivers epic 26-minute acceptance speech
Wanda Sykes closed the night in typical bombastic and hilarious fashion at the Critics Choice Association's Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television on Friday night in Los Angeles, delivering an impromptu speech that ran the gamut from community organizing to admitting she hasn't seen the Amazon Prime show 'Etoile.' Sykes was awarded the last trophy of the evening, for career achievement, wrapping a show that saw other LGBTQ-identifying stars acknowledged for their work over the past year, including Nathan Lee Graham from 'Mid-Century Modern' and the cast of 'Somebody Somewhere.' As Sykes began her speech, she held onto one of the cards that was on every table at the event, listing the evening's winners. She joked that she should have stopped drinking by the time Liv Hewson – who was awarded a rising star statuette for their work on 'Yellowjackets' toward the middle of the evening – came onstage. Admitting she had not written a prepared speech – 'I didn't know it was going to be this big of a deal,' she quipped – Sykes then proceeded to go down the list of winners and mention every single one, including her 'Other Two' costar Gideon Glick, who was recognized for his supporting work on 'Etoile' (Glick's win was bittersweet; while it was his birthday and the entire room broke out into a rendition of 'Happy Birthday' for him, news broke mere hours before the award show began that 'Etoile' has been canceled after one season). 'I didn't watch the show,' Sykes jokingly admitted on stage after talking about how much she loved Glick's speech earlier, in which he reminisced about his mother's acceptance of him when he came out at 12 and some of the struggles he later faced as a working LGBTQ+ actor. Sykes – who was recognized for her work in standup and as a film and television actor – also called out CCA award-winners Megan Stalter of 'Hacks' and 'Saturday Night Live' cast member Bowen Yang, both of whom she thanked for being unapologetically, and hilariously, themselves. About Sasheer Zamata – who won a breakthrough performance award for her work on 'Agatha All Along' and mentioned during her speech that she came out as queer last year – Sykes joked that she knew the former 'SNL' cast member was queer before Zamata did. Toward the end of her speech, Sykes addressed the reality TV award winners of the night, the Season 17 drag queens of 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' calling the show a 'staple.' 'Y'all were out there making noise for us before all of this,' Sykes said, gesturing to the event, before adding, 'Drag queens have always been the leaders, the fighters.' Finally, Sykes shouted out Niecy Nash-Betts, who had been awarded the groundbreaker award just before her, joking that the 'the LGBTQ+ community is such fire, that we got a new member, we got Niecy!' She also thanked Nash-Betts' wife Jessica Betts 'for doing your job.' (Nash-Betts and Betts got married in 2020.) To conclude her speech, Sykes addressed the LGBTQ+ community as a whole, but also said that protecting the trans segment of the community is 'our fight,' since 'they are getting their asses kicked right now.' 'We just got to love hard. So that means you gotta be proud, you gotta be loud, we have to protect our trans brothers and sisters,' she said. 'Thats our next movement.'
CNN
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Wanda Sykes delivers epic 26-minute acceptance speech
Wanda Sykes closed the night in typical bombastic and hilarious fashion at the Critics Choice Association's Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television on Friday night in Los Angeles, delivering an impromptu speech that ran the gamut from community organizing to admitting she hasn't seen the Amazon Prime show 'Etoile.' Sykes was awarded the last trophy of the evening, for career achievement, wrapping a show that saw other LGBTQ-identifying stars acknowledged for their work over the past year, including Nathan Lee Graham from 'Mid-Century Modern' and the cast of 'Somebody Somewhere.' As Sykes began her speech, she held onto one of the cards that was on every table at the event, listing the evening's winners. She joked that she should have stopped drinking by the time Liv Hewson – who was awarded a rising star statuette for their work on 'Yellowjackets' toward the middle of the evening – came onstage. Admitting she had not written a prepared speech – 'I didn't know it was going to be this big of a deal,' she quipped – Sykes then proceeded to go down the list of winners and mention every single one, including her 'Other Two' costar Gideon Glick, who was recognized for his supporting work on 'Etoile' (Glick's win was bittersweet; while it was his birthday and the entire room broke out into a rendition of 'Happy Birthday' for him, news broke mere hours before the award show began that 'Etoile' has been canceled after one season). 'I didn't watch the show,' Sykes jokingly admitted on stage after talking about how much she loved Glick's speech earlier, in which he reminisced about his mother's acceptance of him when he came out at 12 and some of the struggles he later faced as a working LGBTQ+ actor. Sykes – who was recognized for her work in standup and as a film and television actor – also called out CCA award-winners Megan Stalter of 'Hacks' and 'Saturday Night Live' cast member Bowen Yang, both of whom she thanked for being unapologetically, and hilariously, themselves. About Sasheer Zamata – who won a breakthrough performance award for her work on 'Agatha All Along' and mentioned during her speech that she came out as queer last year – Sykes joked that she knew the former 'SNL' cast member was queer before Zamata did. Toward the end of her speech, Sykes addressed the reality TV award winners of the night, the Season 17 drag queens of 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' calling the show a 'staple.' 'Y'all were out there making noise for us before all of this,' Sykes said, gesturing to the event, before adding, 'Drag queens have always been the leaders, the fighters.' Finally, Sykes shouted out Niecy Nash-Betts, who had been awarded the groundbreaker award just before her, joking that the 'the LGBTQ+ community is such fire, that we got a new member, we got Niecy!' She also thanked Nash-Betts' wife Jessica Betts 'for doing your job.' (Nash-Betts and Betts got married in 2020.) To conclude her speech, Sykes addressed the LGBTQ+ community as a whole, but also said that protecting the trans segment of the community is 'our fight,' since 'they are getting their asses kicked right now.' 'We just got to love hard. So that means you gotta be proud, you gotta be loud, we have to protect our trans brothers and sisters,' she said. 'Thats our next movement.'
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Wanda Sykes urges Hollywood to 'protect our trans brothers and sisters'
Comedian Wanda Sykes recently attended Critics Choice LGBTQ+ Celebration, where she give a shout out to "trans brothers and sisters". As per Variety, Sykes, who was honored with the Career Achievement Award Tuesday at the Critics Choice Association's 2nd Annual Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television, said, "I believe that's what our community does, we take care of each other. .. I know that love is stronger than hate... We gotta be prouder, we gotta be louder." The celebration honured achievements from LGBTQ+ creators and talent within the entertainment industry, showcasing emerging and established talent. Sykes, who is currently on the European leg of her "Wanda Sykes Please and Thank You" tour, flew in for the event. Accepting the award from "Wanda Does It" co-star Tim Bagley, Sykes said, "I can't think of a community that's more loving than who we are. We are just trying to love and exist, and then when you have people from the outside that's attacking you for that, I think that's what makes us stronger." She added, "Any adversity makes you stronger, and that's who we are." Bowen Yang (Comedy Award; "Saturday Night Live"), Bridget Everett (Ensemble Award; "Somebody Somewhere"), Eric d'Arbeloff (Industry Leadership Award; Co-President of Roadside Attractions), the Queens of "RuPaul's Drag Race" (Reality TV Award; "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 17), Niecy Nash-Betts (Groundbreaker Award; "Grotesquerie") and Tramell Tillman (Supporting Performance Award - Drama Series; "Severance") were also honoured at the event. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wanda Sykes Urges Hollywood to ‘Protect Our Trans Brothers and Sisters' at Critics Choice LGBTQ+ Celebration: ‘That's Our Next Movement'
Comedian Wanda Sykes has a rallying cry for the entertainment industry and beyond: 'Protect our trans brothers and sisters… that's our next movement.' Sykes, who was honored with the Career Achievement Award Tuesday at the Critics Choice Association's 2nd Annual Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television, said, 'I believe that's what our community does, we take care of each other… I know that love is stronger than hate… We gotta be prouder, we gotta be louder.' More from Variety Chad Stahelski on the 'John Wick' Franchise's Insane Body Count and Keanu Reeves' Fifth Movie: 'Still Working on It' Chuck Lorre Family Foundation Donates $350,000 to Van Ness Recovery House (EXCLUSIVE) 'Ballerina' Star Ana de Armas Says Tom Cruise 'Supports Every Movie' and 'Really Wants' Audiences to 'Go to the Theaters': 'We Are Working Together' The celebration honored achievements from LGBTQ+ creators and talent within the entertainment industry, showcasing emerging and established talent. Sykes, who is currently on the European leg of her 'Wanda Sykes Please and Thank You' tour, flew in for the event. Accepting the award from 'Wanda Does It' co-star Tim Bagley, Sykes said, 'I can't think of a community that's more loving than who we are. We are just trying to love and exist, and then when you have people from the outside that's attacking you for that, I think that's what makes us stronger.' She added, 'Any adversity makes you stronger, and that's who we are.' Other honorees from the night included Bowen Yang (Comedy Award; 'Saturday Night Live'), Bridget Everett (Ensemble Award; 'Somebody Somewhere'), Eric d'Arbeloff (Industry Leadership Award; Co-President of Roadside Attractions), the Queens of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' (Reality TV Award; 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 17), Niecy Nash-Betts (Groundbreaker Award; 'Grotesquerie') and Tramell Tillman (Supporting Performance Award – Drama Series; 'Severance'). Nash-Betts praised the LGBTQ+ community for its support. She said, 'When I was five years old, I said, 'I want to be Black, fabulous and on TV…' and here we are. I want to thank the Critics Choice Association for seeing me, not just for what I play on screen, but for who I am when the cameras stop rolling. You keep going, not for the applause – but for the impact.' She concluded her speech by urging the audience to 'keep breaking ground together until there's not one closet left to hide in.' Yang, who was honored with the Comedy Award, praised his fellow honorees and said, 'While I'm very honored to be receiving this, I do think a Comedy Award is the closest thing that queer people have to a participation trophy. We're all funny. I mean, I've never met a non-funny queer person. It's the way that we relate to each other in a world that's inhospitable at times.' The event took place at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Century City and was hosted by Sherry Cola. Best of Variety 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Animated Program — Can Netflix Score Big With 'Arcane,' 'Devil May Cry' and the Final Season of 'Big Mouth?'
