AWARDS SHOWS
Jennifer Coolidge accepts MTV Comedic Genius Award and voices support for the WGA strike
Jennifer Coolidge took a moment to share her support for the striking members of the Writers Guild of America.
Many celebrities took the night off during this year’s MTV Movie & TV Awards on Sunday, with the live event canceled amidst the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike.
Many celebs opted to give their acceptance speeches via pre-recorded messages, including Jennifer Coolidge, who received the Comedic Genius Award.
But in the middle of her speech, Coolidge showed her support for the strike and highlighted how she wouldn’t be where she is without the writers.
Shouting out the WGA
“Almost all great comedy starts with great writers and I just think that as a proud member of SAG, I stand here before you tonight, side by side with my sisters and brothers from the WGA,” Coolidge said upon receiving her award. “They’re fighting right now, fighting for the rights of artists everywhere.”
“I think, in the words of Shakespeare, he once said, ‘The play is the thing.’ Well, I don’t want to put words in his mouth or anything, but I think what he really meant is, it’s everything!” she added, before breaking out into dance.
Coolidge also joked about the award being made of her favorite food, popcorn, and her excitement about being in “the same club” as previous Comedic Genius Award winners, including Jack Black, Sacha Baron Cohen, Melissa McCarthy, Kevin Hart, and Will Ferrell.
During the MTV Movie & TV Award special, which aired in lieu of a live award ceremony, Coolidge went on to win the ‘Most Frightened Performance’ award for the latest season of ‘White Lotus’, where she played Tanya McQuoid.
Why were the MTV Movie & TV Awards canceled?
Organizers of the MTV Movie & TV Awards ultimately decided to cancel the live awards show after the WGA said they were planning on picketing outside Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar during the awards show in a tweet last Friday.
Host Drew Barrymore also ended up canceling her appearance, saying: “I have listened to the writers, and in order to truly respect them, I will pivot from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards live in solidarity with the strike.
“Everything we celebrate and honor about movies and television is born out of their creation. And until a solution is reached, I am choosing to wait but I’ll be watching from home and hope you will join me.”