There are times when we can’t help but smirk at obvious communication blunders made by celebrities and other public figures. Then there are also times when they manage to get it just right.
Such was the case with both Drake, during his Grammy acceptance speech for best rap song, “God’s Plan,” and Glenn Close, as she accepted her Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama for “The Wife.”
Both maintain that they were not expecting to win anything at all!
Drake
Seemingly without any presentation coaching, Drake succeeded in churning out a rather eloquent speech. In it, he addressed his personal feelings about the award as a measure of professional success.
“The point is,” Drake said, “you’ve already won if you have people who are singing your songs word for word, if you are a hero in your hometown.”
“Look, look, if there [are] people who have regular jobs coming out in the rain, in the snow, spending their hard-earned money to buy tickets to come to your shows—you don’t need this right here,” he said as he gestured with the Grammy in his hand. “I promise you, you already won.”
The rapper also acknowledged his fellow hip hop artists: a “mixed-race kid from Canada” and a “fly Spanish girl from New York” by noting the immense success of their careers. This prompted many users on Twitter to praise his humility in using his speech as an opportunity to uplift others in his genre.
Close
With tears in her eyes, Glenn Close used her acceptance speech to acknowledge others, as well.
“I’m so thankful to my category sisters … I can’t wait to spend more time with you. We all should be up here together,” Ms. Close said.
“I’m thinking of my mom who, for her whole life sublimated herself to my father. Who in her 80’s said, ‘I feel I haven’t accomplished anything.’ And that’s not right. As women, we are nurturers. We have our husbands, our children, if we are lucky. Though, her next words brought a standing ovation. “But we have to find personal fulfillment, follow our dreams. We have to say, I can do that! And I should be allowed to do that.”
Take a look at https://www.amazon.com/Off-Cuff-What-Moments-Notice/dp/1564147134, and judge for yourself the acceptance speeches at the Academy Awards this February 24th. Let us hear your comments!