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.
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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...