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Lin-Manuel Miranda Gives Powerful Tribute to Orlando Shooting Victims During Tony Award Speech
While Sunday night’s Tony Awards were a celebration for Broadway’s finest, many winners made sure to pay tribute to the Orlando shooting that had taken place just hours earlier.
After winning Best Original Score for Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda gave anything but the typical acceptance speech. In true Miranda fashion, he shared a sonnet he wrote honoring his wife and the victims from the Orlando massacre.
“I’m not freestyling. I’m too old,” Miranda said to begin his speech. “I wrote you a sonnet instead.”
Miranda began his sonnet by thanking his wife, describing her as “a perfect symphony of one,” leaving everyone in the audience with tears in their eyes.
Miranda then continued by addressing the “senseless acts of tragedy,” referring to the events from the Orlando shooting just earlier in the day. 50 people were killed and 53 were injured in the attacks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nsg0tE11Gw
“When senseless acts of tragedy reminds us; that nothing here is promised. Not one day,” Miranda recited.
Miranda ended the sonnet by echoing the support of the LGBT community sharing, “love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love; cannot be killed or swept aside.”
The Hamilton star left the stage with tears in his eyes and a loud applause from the audience.
Read the full sonnet below:
“My wife’s the reason anything gets done
She nudges me towards promise by degrees
She is a perfect symphony of one
Our son is her most beautiful reprise
We chase the melodies that seem to find us
Until they’re finished songs and start to play
When senseless acts of tragedy remind us
That nothing here is promised, not one day
This show is proof that history remembers
We live through times when hate and fear seem stronger
We rise and fall and light from dying embers
Remembrances that hope and love last longer
And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love
Cannot be killed or swept aside
I sing Vanessa’s symphony, Eliza tells her story
Now fill the world with music, love and pride”
Miranda and his Hamilton co-stars weren’t the only ones to honor the Orlando shooting victims on Sunday night. Attendees from the event wore silver ribbons to honor the victims and actor Frank Langella spoke about the tragedy during his speech sharing, “We will be with you every step of the way.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnkrUoXWPzM
James Corden also shared his sentiments before the beginning of the show saying, “Hate will never win. Together, we have to make sure of that. Tonight’s show stands as a symbol and a celebration of that principle.” See the full remarks below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7taIoT_A4_A