Cynthia Erivo dazzles the 2024 Out100 event with powerful speech

Cynthia Erivo was honored as the 2024 Out100 Icon of the Year — and her speech accepting this honor couldn't be more magical!

On Wednesday, December 11, Erivo took the stage at the 2024 Out100 event, proudly sponsored by Lexus, to deliver a powerful message about what this moment means to her. The Wicked superstar said:

When I heard I would be the recipient of this award, the ICON award, I kept trying to figure out what that meant for me.

When I think of the word Icon, I think of Marsha P. Johnson, a revolutionary who worked to make change for the trans community and by default the queer community at large. I think of Reverend Pauli Murray, whose work influenced the civil rights movement and taught people that queerness does not erase faith. I think of George Michael who gave us the video and song freedom and celebrated the freedom of expression and self. I think of Koko the doll….. I think of the mothers of the houses of Pendavis, Labeija, Xtravaganza, and Ninja, exquisite queens who took in young queer people and gave them a place to dream. A place where they could be anything they wanted to be….a place where Octavia St Laurent could believe that she was a super model.

I think of those people and I wonder, what qualities do I have that allow me the privilege of being garnished with such a title; and I have come to the conclusion that this is actually where I earn it. That the choices I make in my work help to reflect the many varied lives we live, that the people I have the joy of playing are a celebration of our humanity. That the stories I choose to tell, regale you with the light and dark of our lived experiences. That those pieces, as a whole, serve as a place for you and many others to go, to remind yourself that your existence is cause for exploration and growth and complexity and celebration. I keep using the word celebration, because I think at the core of what I do is a deep want to celebrate us in all our differences and quirks, in our pain and scars, in our laughter and joy.

Hopefully, over time, I will have done enough of this work to be worthy of the word ICON. Until then, I shall have a glorious time earning it.

I was at a talkback last night, and the moderator asked me why I thought people cried watching defying gravity, to which I gave my answer, “I think people are connecting on a very personal level with the journey it has taken to get to the place where Elphaba can proclaim she is defying gravity” the moderator then looked at me and said, “can I give you my reason for crying?” Of course, I obliged “I cried because Elphaba had discovered these new powers, and instead of using them for herself, she chose to use them for others, even though it meant she had to do it alone”

I’d like to take a leaf out of Elphaba’s spell book, Grimery for those in the know and use the powers I have for others, not just myself. I think that’s what makes an Icon.

Now I should let you get on, you deserve to enjoy this night and according to queer media, I have been all over your social media, at least that’s what I’ve heard and I don’t want you to grow to tired of me, there’s a part two on the way and we really need to hold space for that and feel the power in that.

Good night and thank you again Outmagazine for this divine honor. It is unbelievably meaningful to me.

We'll continue to not only "hold space" for Cynthia Erivo — but celebrate, honor, and elevate this performer who embodies every single thing that it takes to be considered our Icon of the Year.

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