Issa Rae was honored as Variety’s Entertainment Entrepreneur of the Year at the Power of Women event in Beverly Hills on Wednesday. The award was presented by Courtney Kelso, senior executive vice president of U.S. Bank, recognizing the Emmy-nominated star, writer, and producer for her impactful ventures.
Kelso welcomed Rae to the stage, noting that the comedian has consistently placed her local community in Los Angeles at the forefront of her professional endeavors.
Rae kicked off her acceptance speech with humor, acknowledging she had not prepared an inspirational script due to distractions caused by national unrest, climate crises, political turmoil, and the rise of artificial intelligence. She also poked fun at the entertainment industry’s current state, telling the audience, “This is all men’s fault. Rich, white men to be specific,” a remark that drew laughter.
Transitioning to a more serious tone, Rae admitted, “It is hard to feel like a powerful woman when men keep fucking everything up.” She reflected on the difficulty of feeling inspired when one feels helpless, a sentiment she experiences frequently as a writer.
However, Rae emphasized that she has learned to channel her energy toward aspects of her life she can control. “I can decide who I’m around, who I work with, who I champion, who I invest in, whose stories I tell, who I platform, who I respond to,” she stated. “I can use the power I do have to pour into my little community to make sure whatever success I’m lucky enough to have doesn’t stop with me.”
As a writer, that line about choosing who to platform really resonated with me. Powerful speech.
She’s funny and sharp. Glad she’s channeling frustration into concrete action for her community.
Honestly, fair point about AI. That uncertainty makes everything feel a bit chaotic right now.
The industry blame game is tired. Can we just talk about her producing prowess instead?
Love her focus on community! Using success to uplift others is the real power move.