Barack Obama just got emotional giving a speech about Ellen DeGeneres and no you’re crying
The President of the United States, Barack Obama, just gave an emotional speech about Ellen DeGeneres and no you’re the one crying!
Obama was speaking while presenting 21 civilians with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday night (November 22nd). Recipients of the medal also included Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jordon, and Tom Hanks.
However, it was speaking about comedian, actor, and talkshow host Ellen DeGeneres where Obama got seriously “choked up.”
Giving an emotive and powerful speech, Obama hailed Ellen’s bravery for publicly addressing her sexuality and for the potential impact that would have had on her career.
"It’s easy to forget now, when we’ve come so far, where now marriage is equal under the law, just how much courage was required for Ellen to come out on the most public of stages almost 20 years ago," Obama said. "Just how important it was not just for the LGBT community, but for all us to see somebody so full of kindness and light. Somebody we liked so much, somebody who could be our neighbor or our colleague or our sister challenge our own assumptions. Remind us that we have more in common than we realize, push our country in the direction of justice. "What an incredible burden it was to bear, to risk your career like that. People don’t do that very often."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqhta-aFWkU?feature=oembed
Obama went on to break up his speech stating that he was “getting choked up,” and reminded people that following her Time cover announcing her sexuality the star did suffer from discrimination when it came to her career.
Ellen then proceeded to get emotional as a speech was read out detailing her achievements, and now we’re crying, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8S9TGeRQVQ?feature=oembed
This wouldn’t be Ellen, however, if there wasn’t some comedy involved.
In fact, the 58-year-old star of Finding Nemo and Dory revealed that she initially didn’t get into the White House for the ceremony because she forgot her ID.
They haven't let me in to the White House yet because I forgot my ID. #NotJoking#PresidentialMedalOfFreedom pic.twitter.com/sHocwqChKV
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) November 22, 2016
"They haven't let me in to the White House yet because I forgot my ID. #NotJoking #PresidentialMedalOfFreedom," she wrote on Twitter.
Of course, once in the White House, Ellen made sure that everyone present took part in the #MannequinChallenge.
I'm in. pic.twitter.com/oU344pnYsH
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) November 22, 2016
She also shared a cute AF selfie with her partner Portia de Rossi.
.@POTUS Barack Obama just awarded me the #MedalofFreedom. I hope it serves as an ID. I have no idea how I'm getting home. pic.twitter.com/JSMf0sJqyF
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) November 22, 2016
".@POTUS Barack Obama just awarded me the #MedalofFreedom. I hope it serves as an ID. I have no idea how I'm getting home," she said.
We couldn’t be more proud and happy for Ellen for receiving this medal. What Barack Obama said is true, she truly is one of the best people around and we love how she brings so much light into so many people’s lives.
