Filipino-American artist H.E.R. has won her first Oscar for Best Original Song with “Fight For You” from the film “Judas and the Black Messiah” at the 93rd Academy Awards in Hollywood and dedicated her win to Black and Filipino girls.
H.E.R. Music’s song bested fellow nominees “Husavik” from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, “lo Sì (Seen)” from The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se), “Speak Now” from One Night in Miami, and “Hear My Voice” from The Trial of the Chicago 7.
H.E.R., whose real name is Gabriella “Gabi” Sarmiento Wilson, was born to a Filipina mother and an African-American father, and received her Academy Award in the Original Song category for “Fight For You.” She co-wrote the song with Tiara Thomas and D’Mile.
During her acceptance speech, the Fil-Am singer-songwriter acknowledged her song collaborators: “The song wouldn’t be what it was without them.”
Wilson was accompanied by her Filipina mom at the 93rd Academy Awards at the Union Station on April 25, 2021, in Los Angeles, California.
“Of course, I have to thank God for giving us these gifts,” Wilson added, “and my parents, my beautiful mother who’s here with me today and my father at home. All those days of listening to Sly and the Family Stone and Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye really paid off, so thank you, Dad.”
In an interview backstage, Wilson told the press that her victory couldn’t have come at a better time and dedicated an inspiring message to members of the Black and Filipino community.
“Just being up there is a message. It’s a message to all the young black and Filipino girls, black or Filipino, you know, that you can be up here too, you know? What you say matters, what you play, what you write, it matters,” Wilson said to ETOnline.
Gabi Wilson hopes to inspire young girls to aim high and pursue their dreams.
“It’s a reflection of who we are, and I’m just happy to represent. I can’t believe I’m here. So I just hope there is another little girl out there, going I can do that too, I can be up there too one day,” Wilson adds.
The R&B sensation penned the song “Fight For You” for the film “Judas and the Black Messiah” about the 1969 shooting of African-American activist and Illinois Black Panther Party member Fred Hampton.
“Music is power. And as long as I’m standing, I’m always gonna fight for us. I’m always gonna fight for my people,” Wilson said.
Gabi Wilson earlier treated fans to an entertaining video that pays tribute to her Pinoy roots, following her 63rd Grammys double wins this year.
The Fil-Am singer-songwriter bagged honors at the MTV Video Music Awards for the powerful single, “I Can’t Breathe” which was written in response to incidents of police brutality and racism in the United States.
SEND CONGRATULATIONS in the comments below to Filipino-American artist H.E.R. who has won her first Oscar for Best Original Song for “Fight For You” from the film “Judas and the Black Messiah” at the 93rd Academy Awards in Hollywood.
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