Simone Ledward Boseman appeared, virtually, on Sunday’s Critics’ Choice Awards to give an emotional, and resonant acceptance speech for her late husband. Chadwick Boseman died last August following a four-year battle with colon cancer. The star was just 43.
The CCA awarded Chadwick the title of Best Actor for his role in Netflix’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. He portrayed an ambitious trumpeter named Levee in the film.
Simone Ledward Boseman got emotional as she accepted her late husband, Chadwick Boseman’s posthumous award, but knew he ‘deserved’ it.
“Wow,” Simone began. “It has to be said aloud that for those of us who know Chad intimately, personally, professionally, those he taught, those he gave a word of advice, those who taught him — it is so hard to find a celebratory feeling in these moments,” she said with tears in her eyes. “As proud as we are of him, yes for his work, but even more just for who he is as a person.”
“But his work deserves this. His work in this film deserves this. He deserves this, and so he would always thank God first and foremost in everything,” she explained. “He would always honor his mother and his father. He would always acknowledge those who came before him, those who charted the path, those who gave him their gifts.”
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“He may say something about the importance of this story. About the importance of Black voices telling Black stories. He may take this moment to give honor to August Wilson, one of the greatest playwrights of our time,” added Simone.
“And, as I recently read, societies grow great when all men plant trees in their shade. They know they may never sit, and our society may be a far cry from great, but I know that the seeds you planted will grow into forests. And one day we too will be tall enough to reach the heavens. Thank you, Critics’ Choice, and thank you, Chad.”
Ben Affleck (The Way Back), Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal), Tom Hanks (News of the World), Anthony Hopkins (The Father), Delroy Lindo (Da 5 Bloods), Gary Oldman (Mank), and Steven Yeun (Minari) were all nominated alongside Chadwick.
Chadwick has been on a winning streak this year, just last Sunday he won a Golden Globe Award for the same performance. His wife virtually accepted the award for him then as well, delivering a tearful speech, saying, “He would thank God.”
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“He would thank his parents. He would thank his ancestors for their guidance and their sacrifice,” Simone said. “He would say something beautiful, something inspiring, something that would amplify that little voice that tells you you can, that tells you to keep going, that calls you back to what you were meant to be doing at this moment in history.”
Simone said her husband would have also thanked those who worked on the film, including director George C. Wolf, producer Denzel Washington, and costar Viola Davis, but “I don’t have his words.”
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“We have to take all the moment to celebrate those we love, so thank you HFPA for this opportunity to do exactly that,” she said. Simone ended that speech with a message to her late husband, saying, “And hon, you keep ’em coming.”
We were so moved during her speech at the Golden Globes, and the Critcs’ Choice Awards. We really did lost an immense talent in Chadwick Boseman. However, his work and his legacy lives on and they most definitely merit the praise he absolutely deserves.
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