People's Choice Awards Likely The Next Platform For Celebrity Causes

By Alexis Rothenberg, CBS 62/CW50 Intern

Are you ready for some controversy? People's Choice Awards are coming to CBS 62 Wednesday, January 18th at 9pm.  So what are celebrities going to say this award season?

Already Meryl Streep used her Cecil B. DeMille Award acceptance speech at the 2017 Golden Globe Awards to share her opinion of President-Elect Donald Trump which continues to cause political and social controversy.  That same night, Tom Hiddleston, Best Actor in a Mini-Series, used his platform as a celebrity to give thanks and recognition to the tireless men and women who work for UNICEF UK, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and the World Food Program. He also encouraged the children in South Sudan to "continue to find hope and joy in the most difficult conditions."

Last year Leonardo DiCaprio won his first Oscar and didn't give any of his fans a laugh at his first ever Oscar win. Leo chose to address his concerns about global warming and the impact it has on the world during his 2016 Best Actor speech. In 2014 Miley Cyrus used her VMA (Video Music Award) win to raise awareness on youth homelessness.  And she even auctioned off her awards for charity.

At the 2015 Emmy's, Viola Davis won Lead Actress in a Dramatic Series. Another historical moment in Hollywood as Viola is the first African-American Women to win this award, ever! Davis took this moment to talk about the need for diversity in Hollywood and the lack of representation of African-American Women in cinema.

With People's Choice Awards happening on Wednesday, audiences may be wondering what other jaw dropping speeches will be made. Will there be more political out-reach? Or just more celebrity awareness speeches on environmental and social issues? American moviegoers will just have to wait to hear what is on celebrities' minds. The 2017 Emmy and Tony awards will be happening this June and July.

Alexis Rothenberg is in her final semester at Eastern Michigan University. This April she will graduate with a Bachelors of Science after completing Eastern's Electronic Media and Film program. Throughout her four years at Eastern Michigan University, Alexis has discovered her passion for screen writing, producing and costume design.