There were many winners at Sunday’s People’s Choice Awards, but Pink’s People’s Choice Awards speech may have been the biggest winner of the night. The singer took the stage to accept her title of the People’s Champion for her philanthropy, and she used the moment to deliver an inspiring call to arms. The message? Be kind — and be the change you want to see in the world.
Pink kicked off her speech by pointing out some apropos similarities between herself and another iconic champ. “It is an absolute honor to be getting this award for the People’s Choice Awards. I looked up ‘People’s Champion’ and Rocky Balboa came up, which I thought was kind of fitting because I’m from around Philadelphia, I like to wear sweatpants and I like to fight people,” she joked, before encouraging viewers to do what they can with what they have.
“I grew up in a family of activists — and boxers, come to think of it actually — and I know that one person can make a difference. You feel like you don’t matter? You feel like your life doesn’t matter? Get involved,” an impassioned Pink told the crowd and everyone watching from home. “You can’t tell me Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela, Gloria Steinem, Anita Hill, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg… Tell me one person can’t make a difference.”
And there’s no shortage of work left, she reminded fans. “There is so much to be done,” she said, adding, “I don’t care about your politics; I care about your kids. I care about decency and humanity and kindness. Kindness today is an act of rebellion. There are people who don’t have what you have; help them get it. There is a planet that needs help. It feels good to help. It feels powerful to help. Stop fighting each other and help each other. Get together with your friends and change the f***king world.”
If that doesn’t get you fired up, we don’t know what will.
You could tell from the looks on the faces in the audience that Pink’s speech did what it was intended to do: inspire. Two faces, in particular, looked ready to go out into the world and tackle its troubles head-on: Pink’s 8-year-old daughter Willow Sage and 2-year-old son Jameson Moon, who were sitting in the crowd with dad Carey Hart.
The entire family charmed on the red carpet ahead of the show, where Pink touched on how she earned the People’s Champion honor in the first place. Speaking to Access Hollywood, she explained why she doesn’t hold back when it comes to fighting trolls online or being honest about motherhood — things that helped earn her that People’s Champion designation.
“It’s easy for me, I’m an open book. I think anytime that you can be human and flawed in front of others, kind of helps other people to feel less alone,” she said. “We’re all just trying to put one foot in front of the other…being a mom is my favorite title, it’s challenging, it’s rewarding, it’s confusing, it’s beautiful, it’s stressful.”
Leave a Comment