Joined onstage by some victims of gun violence and police brutality, the actress delivered a moving speech before Ne-Yo performed a cover of Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On'.
- August 1, 2016
AceShowbiz -
The 2016 Teen Choice Awards took a short break from all the fun to pay tribute to the victims of gun violence during the Sunday, July 31 ceremony. In between handing out surfboards, performances and hilarious skits, Jessica Alba emerged on the stage with a group of teenagers to deliver an emotional speech about ending the violence.
Those standing behind her included the survivors of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. The actress also brought along J.T. Lewis, whose brother was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, as well as Alton Sterling's son, Cameron.
"[They] share an unlikely bond that is hard to comprehend," she said in front of the crowd. "They're the brothers, sisters, daughters, and family members of recent victims of gun violence. I'm talking about Aurora, Baton Rouge, Dallas, Minneapolis, Orlando, San Bernardino, Newtown. It keeps happening and it has to stop. Many of those impacted by these acts of violence are teens."
"Tonight we stand together with these teens. United in a call for peace and an end to this violence. Now more than ever we need to stop, feel, and ask, 'What's going on?' " Alba continued before Ne-Yo launched into a cover of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On".
Respect to the #TeenChoice Awards for paying tribute to victims of gun violence & police brutality. #StopTheViolence pic.twitter.com/YRUW7XCc6F
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) August 1, 2016
Following the singer's performance, Alba returned to the stage and tearfully continued her speech, "These teens had the courage to come here with their grief and take a stand. Tonight Ne-Yo and I and all of us here and all of you watching need to do the same." She and Ne-Yo then asked the crowd to take a photo of the teens on the stage and post it on their respective social media pages with the hashtag #StopTheViolence.
