Lizzo delivered a show-stopping speech at the People’s Choice Awards this week, inviting 17 activists on stage to share her “People’s Champion” award.
“When I first heard about this award, I was on the fence about whether I should accept,” Lizzo said on stage. “Because, if I’m the people’s champ, I don’t need a trophy for championing people. You know what I’m saying?”
“To be an icon isn’t about how long you’ve had your platform, being an icon is about what you do with that platform. And ever since the beginning of my career, I’ve used my platform to amplify marginalized voices.”
Lizzo then invited the 17 women and gender diverse activists onto the stage, saying she wanted to share her platform with them and the incredible work they are doing.
“I am sharing this honor. Make some noise for the people, y’all. These are all activists and people that I think deserve the spotlight,” she said.
Lizzo introduced each activist by name and explained the work they are doing on causes like transgender rights, Indigenous rights, racial and gender inequality, as their faces were also displayed on the stage backdrop.
One of the activists was Tamika Palmer, the mother of Breonna Taylor, who was killed by police in her own home in 2020.
Other activists Lizzo brought on stage included: Amariyanna Copeny, Shirley Raines, Yasmine Aker, Emiliana Guereca, Esther Young Lim, Felicia ‘Fe” Montes, Jayla Rose Sullivan, Kara Roselle Smith, Maggie Mireles, Amelia Bonow, Odilia Romero, Rabbi Tarlan Rabizadeh, Sahar Pirzada, Chandi Moore, Crystal Echo Hawk and Reshma Saujani.
“Power will always be to the people,” Lizzo said.
Watch Lizzo’s full speech at the People’s Choice Awards below.