Molly Shannon takes to the stage to introduce her 'Only Murders in the Building' co-star, Selena Gomez, to accept the Equity in Entertainment Award at The Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment gala breakfast, presented by Lifetime. In her acceptance speech, Gomez expresses her desire for continued growth in representation in the entertainment industry.
00:00Hello everyone! It is an incredible honor to be here this morning with all these
00:09wonderful women to present the Hollywood Reporters Equity and Entertainment Award
00:15to someone who has not only changed the entertainment landscape but has also
00:19used her voice and influence to change the world for the better, Selena Gomez.
00:30Now, I had the privilege of working with Selena on Only Murders in the Building and
00:35from the moment we met I knew I was in the presence of someone truly extraordinary.
00:40Yes, she is an incredibly talented actress, a multi-platinum Grammy-nominated
00:46recording artist and a history-making producer, but more than that someone who
00:50genuinely cares about people and the world around her. She uses her platform to make
00:56a real lasting impact. And today we are here to celebrate all that she has
01:01accomplished, both professionally and philanthropically, and to honor the
01:05powerful legacy she continues to build. Let's start now with Selena's remarkable
01:10career. She's an Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actress and now she is
01:15earning some of the best reviews of her career for her recent work in Emilia
01:19Perez, a Spanish-language film directed by the legendary Jacques Odiard. Selena and her
01:25co-stars Carla Sofia Gascon and Zoe Saldana deliver such breathtaking performances that
01:30all three of them were awarded Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival and of course her
01:40brilliant work on Only Murders in the Building where she not only stars as the sharp witty
01:45Mabel Mora, but she is also an executive producer of the show. Selena has received Emmy,
01:51Golden Globe, and Critics' Choice Award nominations for her role in the series, and as a producer,
01:56she made history as the most nominated Latina producer in the Best Comedy category at the Emmys.
02:02Selena has also dominated the music industry as a multi-platinum Grammy-nominated recording artist. With over 176 million singles sold and more than 38 billion streams worldwide,
02:08her music has connected with fans across the globe. Selena has a unique ability to bring people together through her songs and her influence continues to grow in the music world, but what truly set Selena apart is how she has used her success to create meaningful change. In
02:142019 Selina Tiger
02:34part is how she has used her success to create meaningful change. In 2019, Selena
02:39launched Rare Beauty, her highly successful cosmetics company that has
02:44redefined beauty standards and created a more inclusive space for people of all
02:49backgrounds. And in the process, she became a billionaire business mogul.
02:53How about that?
02:55A true testament to her vision, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to excellence. Beyond
03:06the products themselves, Rare Beauty is a movement driven by Selena's mission to make everyone
03:12feel seen, valued, and beautiful in their own skin. As part of this launch, Selena also announced
03:18the Rare Impact Fund, pledging to raise $100 million for mental health services, underserved
03:23communities, a cause that is deeply personal to Selena. In 2024, Rare Beauty was named one
03:29of 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 Wonder Mind,
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 Teefy,
03:51Wonder Mind 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 tirelessly
04:12to raise awareness and advocate for issues that matter, from mental health to human rights
04:17to social justice. Selena has also collaborated with President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden,
04:23Vice President Kamala Harris, Michelle Obama, Stacey Abrams, and many other world leaders to fight
04:30for change. Her advocacy work has transcended the entertainment world as she uses her voice to speak
04:36out for those who need it most. Selena's dedication to equity, justice, and mental health awareness is a
04:42shining example of what it means to be a true leader in the entertainment industry and beyond.
04:49She is a role model, not just because of her immense talent and success, but because of the way she
04:54uses her influence to empower others. She challenges the status quo and creates a more inclusive,
05:00compassionate world for all. So this morning we honor Selena Gomez.
05:05Not just as a talented artist, but as someone who has used her success to drive real change.
05:14Selena, you have shown us what it means to lead with purpose to elevate others and to never stop fighting
05:26for a more equitable future. It is my absolute privilege to present the Equity and Entertainment Award
05:32Award to someone who is making a profound impact in the world. Please join me in congratulating the
05:37incredible Selena Gomez!
05:41Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'm pretty sure my managers wrote that for her, but that was very kind. I forgot my contacts, so I'm sorry I'm
06:08my contacts so i'm sorry i'm going to be reading from my pages throughout my glasses as well okay
06:15um i want to thank everyone so much for this incredible honor i am truly humbled being in
06:22this room with some of the most incredible women and people in the industry that i've looked up to
06:27my whole life um recognizing me with the equity and entertainment award and putting together this
06:32beautiful event means so much to a lot of people there are so many different roads to go down when
06:38discussing the concept of equity and i started by looking up the technical definition the quality
06:45of being fair and impartial equity and representation means ensuring that women regardless of their
06:51background have 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 and
07:06abilities can thrive i want to say that one little piece of this this award isn't just for me it's for
07:14so many other people who don't have voices and have been overlooked pushed aside and most importantly
07:20have been disrespected um i thought about this and realized obviously this isn't just my award
07:27um so what i'll just share a little story when i was 15 i did this kid show and it was really fun
07:36and i was about 15 when a young mother from the audience came down and she was with her daughter
07:42and she said i'm so excited and happy thank you for being someone that looks like my daughter on tv
07:49because she can finally look up to someone like her uh at the age i really wasn't thinking about the
07:56representation or what the gravity of those words meant but i knew that i was very grateful and i
08:03wanted to do my best to live up to that whatever form that looked like i feel i believe that young
08:09girls need to see themselves reflected in diverse roles heroes leaders and complex characters when girls
08:16see women in empowered roles like i have it inspires them to dream big and pursue their aspirations
08:23today we are now seeing more authentic powerful stories about who we are where we come from and
08:28what we're capable of accomplishing i'm sure we can all agree that we're we're getting there but we're
08:33not all the way done um and i'd say i'm especially honored uh to be a part of this film emilio perez
08:41the film is a celebration of women hispanic women in particular but i believe that there's something
08:48everyone can relate to um these women are wonderful multi-layered characters their strength their
08:55resilience tell them i said what's up and their unwavering drive to rewrite their own stories
09:03this was more than just a role for me it's a reflection of work we need to do to ensure our voices
09:09are not only heard but represented truthfully i would love to thank jack odi yard 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 um representation matters it's not just about
09:27seeing more faces on screen it's about creating opportunities for people to see themselves when
09:32we give people the platform to tell their stories we not only deepen our understanding for one another
09:38we open doors to what's possible that's why i've been so committed to my advocacy from mental health
09:45lupus awareness and encouraging young people to embrace the strength that comes from being vulnerable
09:51and sharing your story this award also represents all the people who are working tirelessly in their
09:58own ways to create a space where everyone belongs there are so many change makers and activists out
10:04there doing the hard work daily to make the difference i am especially inspired by the young
10:09generation because they're the ones that are demanding to be seen used to accept the status quo
10:16i also want to say that as consumers we hold considerable power by choosing to support films and shows that
10:23prioritize equitable representation we send a clear message to industry leaders we want stories that reflect
10:30the reality of our diverse world together we can break down barriers amplify women's voices and create a future
10:37where everyone's story is told i want to thank molly so much for everything and my team who just
10:44believes in me constantly and honestly thank all of you guys because i'm really nervous so
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