People's Choice Awards: Lizzo brings 17 activists on stage

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Lizzo (at the microphone) with activists: "It's about what you do with the stage"

Photo: Rich Polk / E!

Entertainment/NBC/Getty Images

Pop singer Taylor Swift has won three trophies at the People's Choice Awards: Female Artist of the Year, Best Album (Midnights) and the music video for Anti-Hero.

The audience awards in dozens of film, television and music categories were awarded on Wednesday night in Santa Monica, California.

Elizabeth Olsen (»Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness«) and Chris Hemsworth (»Thor: Love and Thunder«) were named Female and Male Movie Star of the Year 2022.

They prevailed against colleagues like Brad Pitt, Chris Pratt, Tom Cruise, Gal Gadot and Jennifer Lopez.

The Marvel production "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" won the award for film of the year, "Top Gun: Maverick" won as action movie.

"Stranger Things" was hailed as show of the year in the television category.

Two awards went to Selena Gomez for Best Comedy Actress in TV Series Only Murders in the Building and Social Celebrity of the Year.

As the most popular podcast, "Archetypes" by the British Duchess Meghan prevailed over the competition.

»Amplifying marginalized voices«

US singer Lizzo won the Song of the Year category with »About Damn Time«.

She also received the honorary People's Champion award for her "groundbreaking contributions" to music and television, but also for her commitment to diversity, equality and body positive image.

Her mother gave her the prize, which the 34-year-old responded to with the exclamation »My mama, y'all!«.

In her acceptance speech, Lizzo pointed out that being a star is not just about being noticed on a stage for as long as possible, but also about doing something with this stage, namely »amplifying marginalized voices«.

With this in mind, she brought 17 activists over to her and introduced them individually at the microphone.

These included women's rights activists, transgender activists, lobbyists against gun violence and representatives of indigenous peoples.

»Deadpool« star Ryan Reynolds accepted the honorary award »Icon« of the year.

The contenders and winners of the »People's Choice Awards«, which have been presented since 1975, are voted for exclusively by fans.

feb/dpa