Colman Domingo and Anna Wintour have become so close they seem inseparable, the Vogue boss told the crowd when the “Selma” star was honored at the Native Son Awards on Wednesday.
“This spring, I seemed to have popped up almost everywhere he goes,” a beaming Wintour said of the star. “I, of course, cannot get enough of Colman, and I’ve come to understand that’s a fairly universal experience,” she added.
Wintour was a surprise guest at the awards show honoring the achievements of prominent Black gay men, and she received a standing ovation when she strutted to the stage.
Domingo, who served as a co-chair at Wintour’s annual Met Gala, was choked up when he accepted his award. But it was more than Wintour who brought him to tears.
“I’m here with my brothers and sisters,” he said, tearfully referring to the crowd which included founder Emil Wilbekin, Kalen Allen, Broadway producer Irene Gandy, Cynthia Erivo, Lena Waithe and Don Lemon, who hosted the gala for the third time.
“Thank you so much Anna for this beautiful surprise to honor me this way… I love our friendship,” Domingo said.
“Emil, thank you so very much. I truly appreciate you for creating a space like this for all of us… This is never just about me. It’s about all of us,” he said after asking fellow actors to stand up.
The evening also had some levity: Lemon warned, “this is going to be trouble ’cause I’m sitting next to Coleman.” The duo were, in fact, very spirited at their table throughout the evening.
At one point, Lemon pointed to the good-looking crowd, explaining, “There are some fine brothers in this room, damn! I’m married, but I’m not blind.”
Comedian and “Survival of the Thickest” star Michelle Buteau gasped, “OMG,” when Lemon shouted her out from the stage. The evening included performances by Durand Bernarr and Deon Jones, who honored the late Angie Stone.
Other honorees included Derrick Adams, Sean Bankhead, Dr. David Johns, Phill Wilson and Paul Tazewell, whom Wintour congratulated for his latest Tony win and “sensational” work in “Death Becomes Her.”
“I’m so honored to be here with you,” she said. “And I’m so honored to bestow this Native Son Award. Thank you, thank you Colman for inspiring all of us for being worthy of the effort you give, and what are we going to do next week?”
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