00:00Hello everyone. It is an incredible honor to be here this morning with all these wonderful
00:10women to present the Hollywood Reporter's Equity in Entertainment Award to someone who
00:15has not only changed the entertainment landscape, but has also used her voice and influence
00:21to change the world for the better, Selena Gomez. Now, I had the privilege of working
00:33with Selena on Only Murders in the Building, and from the moment we met, I knew I was in
00:37the presence of someone truly extraordinary. Yes, she is an incredibly talented actress,
00:43a multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated recording artist, and a history-making producer. But
00:49more than that, someone who genuinely cares about people and the world around her. She
00:54uses her platform to make a real, lasting impact. And today, we are here to celebrate
01:00all that she has accomplished, both professionally and philanthropically, and to honor the powerful
01:05legacy she continues to build. Let's start now with Selena's remarkable career. She's
01:12an Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actress, and now she is earning some of the best reviews
01:16of her career for her recent work in Emilia Perez, a Spanish-language film directed by
01:21the legendary Jacques Odiard. Selena and her co-stars, Carla Sofia Gascon and Zoe Saldana,
01:28deliver such breathtaking performances that all three of them were awarded Best Actress
01:33at the Cannes Film Festival. And of course, her brilliant work on Only Murders in the
01:42Building, where she not only stars as the sharp, witty Mabel Mora, but she is also an
01:47executive producer of the show. Selena has received Emmy, Golden Globe, and Critics'
01:52Choice Award nominations for her role in the series, and as a producer, she made history
01:57as the most-nominated Latina producer in the Best Comedy category at the Emmys. Selena
02:08has also dominated the music industry as a multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated recording
02:13artist. With over 176 million singles sold and more than 38 billion streams worldwide,
02:21her music has connected with fans across the globe. Selena has a unique ability to bring
02:26people together through her songs, and her influence continues to grow in the music world.
02:32But what truly sets Selena apart is how she has used her success to create meaningful
02:37change. In 2019, Selena launched Rare Beauty, her highly successful cosmetics company that
02:44has redefined beauty standards and created a more inclusive space for people of all backgrounds.
02:50And in the process, she became a billionaire business mogul. A true testament to her vision,
03:03entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to excellence. Beyond the products themselves,
03:07Rare Beauty is a movement, driven by Selena's mission to make everyone feel seen, valued,
03:14and beautiful in their own skin. As part of this launch, Selena also announced the Rare
03:18Impact Fund, pledging to raise $100 million for mental health services in underserved
03:23communities, a cause that is deeply personal to Selena. In 2024, Rare Beauty was named
03:29one of Time Magazine's most influential companies, and it's clear why. It's not just a cosmetics
03:34line, it is a platform for change. In addition to Rare Beauty, Selena co-founded Wondermind,
03:41a mental health company dedicated to breaking down the stigma around mental health and providing
03:45accessible resources for people everywhere. Launched alongside her mother, Mandy Teefee,
03:51Wondermind has quickly become a powerful force for good, and yet another example of Selena's
03:55commitment to using her platform to make a difference. Philanthropy and activism have
04:01always been central to Selena's career. She's a longtime supporter of UNICEF, Make-A-Wish,
04:06the Lupus Research Alliance, and the Center for Countering Digital Hate. She has worked
04:11tirelessly to raise awareness and advocate for issues that matter, from mental health
04:16to human rights to social justice. Selena has also collaborated with President Joe Biden,
04:22Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Michelle Obama, Stacey Abrams, and many other
04:28world leaders to fight for change. Her advocacy work has transcended the entertainment world
04:34as she uses her voice to speak out for those who need it most. Selena's dedication to equity,
04:40justice, and mental health awareness is a shining example of what it means to be a true leader
04:46in the entertainment industry and beyond. She is a role model not just because of her immense
04:52talent and success, but because of the way she uses her influence to empower others.
04:57She challenges the status quo and creates a more inclusive, compassionate world for all.
05:03So this morning, we honor Selena Gomez.
05:09Not just as a talented artist, but as someone who has used her success to drive real change.
05:15Selena, you have shown us what it means to... Selena, you have... I have more to say about you.
05:21Selena, you have shown us what it means to lead with purpose, to elevate others,
05:25and to never stop fighting for a more equitable future. It is my absolute privilege to present
05:32the Equity in Entertainment Award to someone who is making a profound impact in the world.
05:35Please join me in congratulating the incredible Selena!
05:51Thank you. Thank you. I'm pretty sure my managers wrote that for her, but
06:05that was very kind. I forgot my contacts, so I'm sorry. I'm going to be reading from my pages.
06:13Forgot my glasses as well. Okay. I want to thank everyone so much for this incredible honor.
06:19I am truly humbled being in this room with some of the most incredible women and people in the
06:25industry that I've looked up to my whole life. Recognizing me with the Equity in Entertainment
06:31Award and putting together this beautiful event means so much to a lot of people.
06:36There are so many different roads to go down when discussing the concept of equity,
06:41and I started by looking up the technical definition. Equality of being fair and impartial.
06:47Equity in representation means ensuring that women, regardless of their background,
06:52have equal opportunities to share their stories and showcase their talents. It's about moving
06:58from tokenism to true inclusion, creating spaces where women of all races, sexual orientations,
07:06and abilities can thrive. I want to say that one little piece of this, this award isn't just for
07:13me, it's for so many other people who don't have voices and have been overlooked, pushed aside,
07:19and most importantly have been disrespected. I thought about this and realized obviously this
07:25isn't just my award. So what I'll just share a little story. When I was 15, I did this kids show
07:33and it was really fun. And I was about 15 when a young mother from the audience came down and she
07:41was with her daughter and she said, I'm so excited and happy. Thank you for being someone that looks
07:48like my daughter on TV because she can finally look up to someone like her. At the age, I really
07:54wasn't thinking about the representation or what the gravity of those words meant, but I knew that
08:01I was very grateful and I wanted to do my best to live up to that, whatever form that looked like.
08:08I believe that young girls need to see themselves reflected in diverse roles,
08:13heroes, leaders, and complex characters. When girls see women in empowered roles like I have,
08:19it inspires them to dream big and pursue their aspirations. Today, we are now seeing more
08:24authentic, powerful stories about who we are, where we come from, and what we're capable of
08:29accomplishing. I'm sure we can all agree that we're getting there, but we're not all the way
08:34done. And I'd say I'm especially honored to be a part of this film, Emilio Perez. The film is a
08:42celebration of women, Hispanic women in particular, but I believe that there's something everyone can
08:48relate to. These women are wonderful, multi-layered characters. Their strength, their resilience,
08:56tell them I said what's up, and their unwavering drive to rewrite their own stories. This was more
09:04than just a role for me. It's a reflection of work we need to do to ensure our voices are not
09:09only heard, but represented truthfully. I would love to thank Jack Odiard for always telling
09:15women's stories in the most thoughtful and magical way. He is the definition of a complete different
09:21creature from another planet that I adore. Representation matters. It's not just about
09:27seeing more faces on screen, it's about creating opportunities for people to see themselves.
09:32When we give people the platform to tell their stories, we not only deepen our understanding for
09:38one another, we open doors to what's possible. That's why I've been so committed to my advocacy
09:44from mental health, lupus awareness, and encouraging young people to embrace the strength that comes
09:50from being vulnerable and sharing your story. This award also represents all the people who are
09:57working tirelessly in their own ways to create a space where everyone belongs. There are so many
10:02change makers and activists out there doing the hard work daily to make the difference.
10:07I am especially inspired by the young generation because they are the ones that are demanding to
10:12be seen, used to accept the status quo. I also want to say that as consumers, we hold considerable
10:21power by choosing to support films and shows that prioritize equitable representation. We send
10:27a clear message to industry leaders. We want stories that reflect the reality of our diverse
10:32world. Together we can break down barriers, amplify women's voices, and create a future where everyone's
10:38story is told. I want to thank Molly so much for everything, and my team who just believes in me
10:44constantly, and honestly thank all of you guys because I'm really nervous, so...
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