Cynthia Erivo just added another trophy to her shelf, and this one comes with extra sparkle! The Wicked star swooped into the 2025 GLAAD Media Awards, rocking a Dior look so chic even Glinda would be jealous. But she wasn’t just there to turn heads—she was honored with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award, which is basically GLAAD’s way of saying, “You’re an icon, keep making the world less terrible.”
Her ride-or-die, Lena Waithe, was right by her side, probably resisting the urge to hold up a giant “That’s my baby!!” sign. The award is given to LGBTQ media legends who have done the heavy lifting of making the world a more accepting place, and Cynthia’s been out here lifting like a champion.
A Speech That Had More Power Than a Wicked Spell
Taking the mic, Cynthia reminded everyone that being yourself is a full-time job—and unfortunately, it comes with zero paid vacation days.
“It isn’t easy. None of it is,” she said, probably making half the room tear up while the other half frantically searched for tissues. “Waking up and choosing to be yourself, proclaiming a space belongs to you when you don’t feel welcomed, teaching people on a daily basis how to address you and dealing with the frustration of reteaching people a word that has been in the human vocabulary since the dawn of time: they/them.”
Cynthia’s Wizard of Oz Moment
Because what’s a Wicked star’s speech without a little Oz magic? Cynthia took us on a metaphorical trip down the yellow brick road—but in this case, the road had less sparkle and more struggle.
“Here in this room, we have all been the recipients of the gift that is the opportunity to ‘be more.’ I doubt that it has come easy to any of us. For some, the road has not been paved with yellow bricks, but instead with bumps and potholes,” she said. “Whichever road you have traveled, how beautiful it is that you’ve had a road to travel on at all.”
Basically, she dropped wisdom so powerful that even the Wicked Witch of the West would’ve stopped mid-meltdown to take notes.
Lena Waithe, visibly beaming, was likely thinking, “Yep, that’s MY person.” And honestly? We’re all just lucky to be living in a world where Cynthia Erivo exists.
Go ahead, click below and watch the full speech—you’ll laugh, cry, and maybe start humming “Defying Gravity.”