Geena Davis Gives Special Shout-Out to Lizzo While Accepting Governors Award at 2022 Emmys

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty

Geena Davistook the stage at the 74th PrimetimeEmmy Awardsto speak out on her work with theGeena Davis Institute on Gender In Media.

The Television Academy awarded Davis with the Governors Award on Monday night for her work with the foundation, which she founded in 2004, “in recognition of their efforts to promote gender balance and foster inclusion throughout the entertainment industry.”

“Since 2004, the institute has been fighting for equality and representation, long before it was comfortable to take that stand,” said Governors Award selection committee co-Chair Kim Taylor-Coleman in astatementlast month. Committee co-chair Michael Spiller added, “The institute’s work continues to result in real-world changes that have an impact far beyond the sound stages and locations we show up at every day.”

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According to Davis, “We know that in many sectors of our society true gender equality may take many years to achieve, but there’s one space where parity can be reached virtually overnight: on screen.”

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Davis then took a moment to give a brief but special shout-out toLizzo. Moments earlier, the 34-year-old singer gave an emotional speech about the importance of representation in media after her Prime Video series,Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, won for outstanding competition program.

“Tonight’s about honoring the best of television and as you know, as Lizzo knows, television can often directly impact how people see themselves and judge their value in the world,” Davis continued. “And in the time since I launched the institute, we’ve made a great deal of progress. But still, there’s more work to do.”

The actress added: “Of course, many of the content creators that we have partnered with are here tonight, many of you. So thank you all for your support. And if there’s anybody else that thinks we won’t be able to help you, just call us. Thank you, guys. Thanks.”

Davis previouslytold PEOPLEthat motherhood prompted her to found the Institute.

She added, “I didn’t intend to make it my life’s mission, but it has become that now.”

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Davis is a two-time Oscar winner, for her supporting work in 1988’sThe Accidental Touristand as the 2020 recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. She received a 2006 Emmy nomination for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for her portrayal of groundbreaking President Mackenzie Allen on ABC’sCommander in Chief.

Previous recipients of the Governors Award have includedDebbie Allen,Tyler Perry,Star Trek,American Idoland PBS’s Masterpiece Theater.

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The 74th PrimetimeEmmy Awardsare being broadcast live on NBC from the Microsoft Theater in ‎Los Angeles.

source: people.com