“When we talk about equity in entertainment, I, like so many others in this room, speak from experience,” Lopez noted during her speech.

“In the early days of my career, I often felt like that underdog. You know, that Puerto Rican girl from the Bronx who kind of wasn’t supposed to be in the room, let alone [be in] the center of it.

I was told in 100 different ways what roles people like me were expected to play, and I played some of those roles. I saw how stereotypes try to box me in before I even had the chance to show what I could really do. And then Selena came along.”

Lopez went on to thank the people who changed the course of her career, noting that while the industry still has work to do, things are steadily improving.

“I have tried to choose stories that show the fullness of who we are. Latinos, yes, but also Black and brown talent, indigenous artists communities, immigrants, women, non-binary, people with disabilities,”

Lopez said. “All I have ever wanted is to help people get the visibility, resources, and respect they deserve. This award is not just a reminder of how far we’ve come,

it’s a reminder of the work still ahead and it requires all of us, the storytellers, the executives, the dreamers, the disruptors, and every person in this room who is brave enough, to keep going.”