Teen Choice Awards gets political in light of Charlottesville events

Zendaya Responds to a tragic event

Things got political at the 2017 Teen Choice Awards. After Saturday’s tragic events in Charlottesville, Va., where white nationalists and counterprotesters clashed, leaving three dead and many injured, politics was on many an award winner’s mind. When actress Zendaya accepted her award for Choice Summer Movie Actress for her performance in Spider-Man: Homecoming, she encouraged action through education: “With all of the injustice and the hatred and everything that is happening, not only in the world but in our country right now, I need you young people, I need you guys to be educated, I need you guys to listen, I need you to pay attention.”

Fifth Harmony joins in

When Fifth Harmony accepted their award for Choice Music Group, Lauren Jauregui had a message about the incident in Virginia. “In light of recent events, we just wanted to say to all of the young ones at home watching, no matter who you are, where you come from, what you look like, you are beautiful, you are important, so keep spreading love and positivity, all right?”

Yara Shahidi and Gen Z

Presenter Yara Shahidi also used her moment at the mic to express a message of love. “With everything that is happening in the world, it is just so important that we use our platform as Gen Z to spread the love that is so crucial right now.”

The Teen Choice Awards aired on Fox.

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