Zelenskyy, a Ukrainian politician, makes an unexpected virtual appearance
Key Takeaways:
- On Sunday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise appearance at the Grammy Awards.
- Following Volodymyr's speech, John Legend performed a new song called Free, which he accompanied by some Ukrainian musicians.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise appearance at the Grammy Awards on Sunday night. Last month, the Ukrainian President had requested a chance to speak at the 94th Academy Awards, but he was not present during the ceremony. He did, however, get a chance to speak at the Grammy Awards, where he urged people to support Ukraine.
Just before John Legend dedicated a performance to the people of Ukraine as they face the Russian invasion, a pre-recorded speech by Volodymyr was played at the award show. In his speech, Volodymyr compared the war to the opposite of music, pleading for support for Ukraine.
"The war," he explained. What could be more opposed to music? The silence of ruined cities and people who have been killed. Instead of shooting stars, our children draw swooping rockets. Over 400 children were injured, and 153 died, and we will never see them draw again. Our parents are grateful to be alive, even if they are in bomb shelters. Our loved ones are unsure if we will ever be reunited. We don't get to select who lives and who dies in eternal silence because of the war."
Following Volodymyr's speech, John Legend performed a new song called Free, for which some Ukrainian musicians joined him. Siuzanna Iglidan, a Denver resident who is originally from Odessa, Ukraine, as well as Ukrainian singer and actor Mika Newton, whose sister is serving in the Ukrainian army, performed at the event. Lyuba Yakimchuk, a poet who reportedly left Ukraine just days before the war, was also in attendance.
"Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos," the Ukrainian President said in his speech about his country's musicians. They sing to the sick and injured in hospitals, even if they cannot hear them. However, the music will eventually breakthrough. We fight for our right to live, love, and make music. On our soil, we are fighting Russia, which uses its bombs to create a horrible silence — a dead silence. Your music will fill the void. To tell our story, fill it out today."
"Tell the truth about this battle on your social networks, television," he added. Please assist us in any way you can. Any — but certainly not silence. Then peace will return to all of our cities that have been devastated by the war, including Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Volnovakha, Mariupol, and others. They're already legends, but I'd like to see them live — and free, like you on the Grammy stage."
Grammys appealed to donate to Global Citizen's relief effort at ForUkraine.com after his speech and subsequent performance led by John Legend.