Lin-Manuel Miranda Honors Orlando Shooting Victims In Tonys Acceptance Speech
Host James Corden opened the show by dedicating the night to the victims.
The 70th Annual Tony Awards aired Sunday night. The show went on even after the Pulse nightclub mass shooting, but it was dedicated to the victims of that tragic event.
Host James Corden opened The Tonys with a monologue acknowledging and honoring all those affected by the Sunday morning Orlando massacre.
“On behalf of the whole theater community and every person in this room,” he said, “our hearts go out to all those affected by this tragedy…. Hate will never win.”
Later in the show, Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda accepted the award for best score and performed a touching and heart-wrenching sonnet for his acceptance speech that left him in tears.
The Hamilton cast also removed musket props from their Tony Awards performance in light of the Orlando shooting.
Read the full transcript of Miranda's acceptance speech below.
My wife’s the reason anything gets done,
She nudges me towards promise by degrees.
She’s a perfect symphony of one,
Our son is her most beautiful reprise.
We chase the melodies that seem to find us,
Until they’re finished songs, and start to play.
When senseless acts of tragedy remind us,
That nothing here is promised, not one day.
This show is proof that history remembers,
We’ve lived through times that hate and fear seemed stronger.
We rise and fall and light from dying embers,
Remembrances that hope and love last longer.
And love is love is love is love,
Is love is love is love is love
Cannot be killed or swept aside.
I sing Vanessa’s symphony, Eliza tells her story,
Now fill the world with music love and pride.
At about 2 a.m. on Sunday morning, gunman Omar Mateen shot and killed at least 50 people and wounded 53 others at a gay Orlando nightclub called Pulse. Mateen took hostages in the nightclub and was eventually shot and killed at 5 a.m. by law enforcement.