Tiffany Haddish, Mo Amer, Zahn McClarnon and More Celebrated at Faith and Spirituality Honors: ‘That’s Not Hollywood. That’s Holy’
Not a seat was empty at Variety’s second annual Variety Faith & Spirituality in Entertainment Honors presented by Coalition for Faith & Media as attendees gathered to celebrate the evening’s honorees at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills Thursday night. The event was one filled with tears, laughter and rigorous applause as guests came together to celebrate the power of positive representations of faith and spirituality in today’s entertainment landscape.
“Tonight is about acknowledging the cultural, creative and human progress that comes when we portray faith with honesty with depth,” said Jeff Simpson, Coalition for Faith and Media trustee and president & CEO of Deseret Management Corp, in his opening remarks. “It’s about recognizing that these stories don’t just reflect the world as it is. They help us shape the world into what can be.”
Jay Shetty, bestselling author and host of the “On Purpose” podcast, emceed the evening, delivering an earnest yet humorous speech about the many ways in which spirituality can manifest in people’s lives.
“[Faith] can mean believing in the universe,” said Shetty. “It can mean believing Mercury is finally out of retrograde, or believing your green juice will fix your entire life … We all believe in something.” And while storytelling can act as a pathway to connection, Shetty noted that there is still a need for narratives of faith, spirituality and the search for purpose in film and television. “Purpose-driven storytelling isn’t a niche,” Shetty concluded. “It’s necessary.”
Bridget Everett, star and executive producer of HBO’s “Somebody Somewhere,” was honored with the Variety Faith and Spirituality in Entertainment Visionary Award for her raw portrayal of Sam, who returns to her hometown of Manhattan, Kan., following her sister’s death. The show follows her as she reconnects with old friends, her sister and the community, using gentle humor and a fantastic array of character actors that energize the beloved series.
“Bridget’s portrayal of Sam… is one of the most nuanced expressions of spiritual searching that I’ve ever seen portrayed on television,” said presenter and “Somebody Somewhere,” said co-star Tim Bagley before welcoming Everett to the stage.
Everett candidly discussed her own “complicated” relationship with organized religion while growing up, and how these experiences informed the character of Joel, played by Jeff Hiller. “His faith led him to community. The way we find [community] and the places that we find it is ultimately the heart of ‘Somebody Somewhere,’” Everett said in her acceptance remarks.
“There are so many reasons that I’m grateful for ‘Somebody Somewhere,’ but my biggest takeaway is that really what matters most is faith,” Everett continued. “Is your faith in your friends? Is your faith in your family? And really, is your faith in yourself?”
Creator and executive producer of Apple TV’s “Chief of War” Thomas Pa’a Sibbett was honored by Cliff Curtis, co-producer and star of the historical drama, who called out Sibbett’s determination and faith in telling a story about his Hawaiian ancestors.
“We’ve been able to work together and create something that was a representation of our people, of our history, of a language that’s never been explored before in film,” said Sibbett. “I’m really grateful for that.”
Actor and producer Essence Atkins introduced Traci Blackwell, senior development executive, Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, who was awarded for her work creating faith-based series like “House of David.” Atkins praised Blackwell for her sincerity.
In a speech guided by the role faith plays in her life, Blackwell expressed gratitude to those who have supported her and allowed her work to both inspire and transform the lives of those around the world.
“At work, I try not to hide my faith,” said Blackwell. “I don’t have to be shy about saying that I’m a follower of Christ. In fact, I am encouraged to draw upon it for work. My faith has become my superpower.”
Actor Anthony Ramos served as presenter for honoree Mo Amer, the star and executive producer of “Mo Amer: Wild World.” “What Amer does on screen and on stage is more than comedy or storytelling,” said Ramos. “It’s healing disguised as a punchline.”
“In this world … faith invites us to slow down, to listen inward and to trust what he cannot see,” said Amer. “The heart is not an organ of just feeling. It is the seat of understanding. It is where truth lands. It is where intention is born, and it is where God looks first.”
Star and executive producer of AMC’s “Dark Winds” Zahn McClarnon accepted his award from the series’ showrunner John Wirth. McClarnon, who also starred on FX’s hit “Reservation Dogs,” noted that these two shows are able to have a deep impact because they hold space for stories of faith and spirituality, and a culture that has been marginalized time and again.
“If you feel like your story is too niche, too local, too specific to ever go mainstream, remember this moment,” said McClarnon. “The most profound spiritual truths tend to come from the deepest wells.”
Comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish closed out the ceremony, introduced by life-long friends and fellow co-stars Shermona Long, Sparkle Clark and Selena Martin. The women spoke candidly about Haddish’s achievements, praising not just her ability as a performer but as a woman guided by her intuition, ancestors and faith.
“What really makes tonight special is that this award is being presented by three women who have walked with me through every season of my life,” said Haddish. “The fact that they are the ones putting this award in my hands, that’s not Hollywood. That’s holy. That’s family.”
She added: “May we all use our gifts, our stories, our laughter and our creativity to lift spirits, our hearts and bring more love into the world, one moment, one truth, one soul at a time. Because when you walk in your purpose, when you walk in your truth, when you don’t just shine, you help everyone around you shine.”
