Scarlett Johansson and Ben Platt Honored on the 2023 Golden Coronary heart Awards

The annual Golden Coronary heart Awards, benefiting God’s Love We Ship, returned to New York’s Glasshouse on Monday night for a heartfelt night time of fundraising, theater and shock movie star appearances. 

Now in its seventeenth 12 months, the 2023 Golden Coronary heart Awards raised greater than $3.5 million for the group, which supplies medically tailor-made meals to New Yorkers in want, and handed out awards to Scarlett Johansson and Ben Platt for his or her philanthropic efforts. 

Visitors made their approach as much as the sixth ground of the occasion venue, positioned on twelfth Avenue, and had been greeted with a glowing neon “Indochine” signal, because the downtown vogue crowd favourite had taken cost of the cocktail hour menu for the night time. Tucked in a aspect room was a step and repeat, the place Nicky Hilton Rothschild and Tina Leung giggled post-photo ops because the photographers lingered for extra photographs of Johansson. Throughout the ground, in one other non-public house, a lot of the celebrities congregated with Michael Kors, who has a longstanding partnership with the charity (and is answerable for the glamour and movie star energy of the night time).  

“At any time when I feel that they’ve reached their max, that they will’t do extra, in some way they step as much as the plate and so they handle to do extra,” the designer mentioned throughout cocktails of GLWD.

Sitting close by him was Johansson, who Kors mentioned he’s identified since she was a youngster.

“The 2 of us are born and bred New Yorkers, and I’ve all the time been such an admirer of the truth that not solely is her expertise so immense, however she’s actually so concerned with town that she grew up in, town that she lives in,” he mentioned. “She’s continually giving again — and she or he’s quiet about it.”

As for Platt, Kors has been a fan since he first noticed the actor on Broadway in “Expensive Evan Hansen.” 

“I’m a theater freak, I’m the theater geek of all occasions, and [Ben’s] coronary heart and his soul, you see it on the stage after which once you discuss to him in individual, it’s that occasions 10.” 

The night’s program included a efficiency by Tony winner J. Harrison Ghee, of “Some Like It Sizzling,” a dwell public sale, in addition to speeches from Johansson and Platt, who had been launched by Rupert Good friend and Cynthia Erivo, respectively. Good friend’s introduction of Johansson was interrupted by a shock visitor, none apart from Matt Damon. 

“Scarlett is unbelievable. She’s a tremendous artist and superb to work with, however as nice as she is at work, tonight we’re right here to honor her for her philanthropy,” Damon informed the room, earlier than taking a jab at Johansson’s husband, “SNL” forged member Colin Jost, who was not in attendance. 

“In 2020, figuring out their wedding ceremony would possibly seize just a few headlines, Scarlett and her husband,” — adopted by an intentional mispronunciation of Jost’s title, earlier than selecting “Mr. Scarlett” — “selected to announce the festivities via the Meals on Wheels of America Instagram web page and this drove donations and consciousness throughout a time when the group and the individuals who depend on it wanted it most,” Damon mentioned.

Each Platt and Johansson gave speeches thanking the group and Kors for the popularity. 

“As a baby residing in New York, my household was depending on meals stamps, scorching lunch packages and authorities support to assist our family and 4 youngsters,” Johansson mentioned in her speech. “And as somebody who’s skilled meals insecurity firsthand, I perceive the devastating affect it could actually have. The battle to place meals on the desk can result in immense hardship and despair and a lack of hope. However organizations like God’s Love We Ship supply a lifeline to these in want.”

As a last deal with of the night time, David Foster took the stage to introduce Mary J. Blige for a shock efficiency, which had everybody from Julianna Margulies to Neil Patrick Harris on their ft.