.@DavidKHarbour just gave the passionate, fiery speech we all needed #SAGAwards pic.twitter.com/OyH005Gqg2
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) January 30, 2017
This year's SAG Awards will likely be remembered more for the political content of its winners speeches than the films and TV shows it honors. Moving speeches from actors such as Mahershala Ali and Taraji P. Henson set the tone during the evening, with both making reference to accepting others and their desire to see people united.
It was Stranger Things actor David Harbour who delivered the rousing call to arms of the night though. He picked up the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series alongside his cast mates from the Netflix show and gave a powerful speech which began extolling the virtues of acting and ended with him promising to "punch some people in the face when they seek to destroy the weak." It's the same speech which launched a thousand Winona-reacts GIFs.
"I would like to say that in light of all that's going on in the world today, it's difficult to celebrate the already-celebrated Stranger Things," Harbour said. "But this award from you, who take your craft seriously and earnestly believe like me that great acting can change the world, is a call to arms from our fellow craftsmen and women to go deeper and, through our art, to battle against fear, self-centeredness, and exclusivity of our predominantly narcissistic culture."
He concluded, "Now, as we act and the continuing narrative of Stranger Things, we 1983 midwesterners will repel bullies. We will shelter freaks and outcasts, those who have no home. We will get past the lies. We will hunt monsters, and when we are at a loss amidst the hypocrisy and casual violence of certain individuals and institutions, we will—per chief Jim Hopper—punch some people in the face when they seek to destroy the weak, the disenfranchised, and the marginalized. We will do it all with soul, heart, and joy. We thank you for this responsibility."
Check out the speech above.