'Succession' star makes powerful statement in support of Ukraine during SAG Awards speech

The 28th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards celebrated the best acting performances of the year on Sunday, and while the event largely kept the focus to entertainment, presenters and winners could not ignore the ongoing conflict in Ukraine .

At the outset, Leslie Odom Jr. addressed attendees: “While tonight is a celebration, we are all at the same time holding a place in our hearts for the people of Ukraine and sending our thoughts, prayers, and hopes for impending peace.”

SAG President Fran Drescher voiced her support for Ukraine. Hacks winner Jean Smart called for peace. And Michael Keaton, who won for his role in Dopesick, even gave Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky a shout-out.

“I will tell you, we have a fellow actor in Zelensky, who deserves some credit tonight for fighting the fight.” Keaton said. Prior to being a politician, Zelensky was a popular comedian and actor.

When the cast of Succession won for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, show patriarch Brian Cox spoke on everyone’s behalf. He used his time on stage to give an impassioned speech about censorship in Russia and Ukrainian support.

“The thing that has really distressed me is what's happening in Russia,” said Cox. “To my fellow actors and actresses and performers and writers and critics, they are told under pain of high treason they cannot say a word about Ukraine. For those people, the people in Russia who don't like what's going on, and particularly the artists, I think we should join and celebrate them and hope that they can make a shift. Because I believe they can.”

For more information about the show, visit The Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Watch as Michael Keaton wins SAG Award while he’s in the bathroom:

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