When Common and John Legend took the stage to perform their powerful song “Glory” from Best Picture nominee Selma at last night’s Academy Awards, the A-list attendees were visibly moved. And later on, tears flowed in the audience as the pair delivered an emotional and politically-charged acceptance speech for the track’s Best Original Song win.
“I’m grateful that people are receiving our speech so positively,” Common told InStyle at the Governors Ball after-party. “I feel like that platform is something we should use to speak up.” And by bringing up voting rights and the struggle for justice at the podium, they certainly did. “John said some very important things, and I knew if I was going to get up there, I was going to say something,” Common added.
After giving his big speech, the hip hop artist was basking in the glory of the win. “It’s surreal,” he said. “I’m looking at my boy holding that Oscar right now, and it’s funny to think that it’s mine.”
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