The Tony Awards opened on Sunday night in New York with a tribute from host James Corden to the victims of this morning’s mass shooting in Orlando, now the deadliest in history.
“All around the world, people are trying to come to terms with the horrific events that took place in Orlando this morning,” Corden began, calling the massacre an atrocity.
“All we can say you are not on your own right now; your tragedy is our tragedy,” he said, his voice shaking. “Theater is a place where every race, creed, sexuality, and gender is equal, is embraced, and is loved; hate will never win.”
“Together, we have to make sure of that,” Corden urged. “Tonight’s show stands as a symbol and a celebration of that principle.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator and star of Broadway’s hit “Hamilton,” addressed the tragedy in a sonnet he recited while accepting the award for best score. Tearfully, Miranda stated, “Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love; Cannot be killed or swept aside.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda recites passionate sonnet to Orlando in #TonyAwards acceptance speech https://t.co/uvZKLVh3Ft https://t.co/DXOx552QBN
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) June 13, 2016
In his acceptance speech for “The Father,” legendary actor Frank Langella also shared a moving message with the victims in the Orlando shooting.
“I urge you Orlando to be strong because I’m standing in a room of the most generous humans on Earth and we will be with you every step of the way,” he said.
At around 2 a.m. Sunday, a man armed with an AR-15 and a handgun opened fire at a gay nightclub, killing 50 and injuring 53 more. Later in the morning, a heavily armed man was arrested by Santa Monica police on his way to the Los Angeles Pride Parade. June is National LGBT Pride month.
