SAG Awards Recap: Top 5 Speeches

Last night was the 2017 Screen Actors Guild awards filled with versatile speeches. Many of which connected to President Trump’s immigration ban. Here are the top five that still has people talking today.

5. Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington surprisingly took home a SAG Award for his outstanding performance as the lead actor in Fences. This was the well accomplished actor’s first time winning a SAG Award. He began his speech anxiously saying “I'm a God-fearing man, I'm supposed to have faith, but I didn't have faith.” He was so unprepared; the two-time Academy Award and three-time Golden Globe winner didn’t believe he was going to win!

4. Lily Tomlin

The bold and carefree Lily Tomlin was presented with a Life Achievement Award. At the age of 77, she offered life advice to the younger generation, beginning with “Don’t leave the house when you’re drunk.” Lily Tomlin was comical and the icing on the cake of many political related speeches.

3. Mahershala Ali

It was a night of firsts. Mahershala Ali won Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of Juan in Moonlight. The speech challenged the idea of persecution. He mentioned his Muslim background in contrast to his mother being an ordain minister. At the end, he states “We love each other. The love has grown. And that stuff is minutiae. It’s not that important.” Mahershala mastered grabbing the attention of many with his immaculate speech.

2. Hidden Figures Cast

The Hidden Figures ensemble won Best Cast in a Motion Picture. Golden Globe winner, Academy Award and two-time Emmy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson presented the speech amongst her cast members. She paid homage to the historical figures that didn’t receive acknowledgement in the past due to the era’s circumstances. Taraji ended her powerful speech stating “This story is about what happens when we put our differences aside and we come together as a human race. We win. Love wins. Every time.”

1. Stranger Things Cast

Stranger Things won Outstanding Performance by and Ensemble in a Drama Series and cast member David Harbour stole the show. Harbour was passionate about the recent Trump events and stated “We will shelter freaks and outcasts, those who have no home. 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 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 all with soul, with heart, and with joy. We thank you for this responsibility.” Meanwhile, co-star Winona Ryder was making comical faces that grabbed the attention of many.

Pashan Adkins