Charlize Theron Slams Policies at Africa Outreach Event
At her annual block party, Charlize Theron voiced strong criticism of current policies impacting immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, and women’s rights. The actress also condemned cuts to foreign aid, offering a stark assessment of the world’s current state.
Fiery Remarks on Global Issues
On Saturday, Charlize Theron delivered impassioned comments during the fifth annual Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Program Block Party. Held on the Universal lot, the Oscar winner stated, “The world feels like it’s burning because it is.” She expressed concern that the U.S. and the world are rapidly regressing on several fronts.
She declared, “Immigration policy is destroying the lives of families, not criminals. Women’s rights are becoming less and less every day, queer and trans lives are increasingly being erased, and gender-based violence is on the rise. This isn’t just policy, it’s personal. Fuck them.” The actress continued, discussing the consequences of foreign aid cuts, particularly their effect on HIV and AIDS programs in her home country of South Africa.
Theron highlighted the detrimental and dangerous impacts of these policies. She expressed that many people will lose their lives, and tragically, many already have. This reality is causing unnecessary suffering.
Theron did not name Donald Trump, but his administration has prioritized cutting foreign aid. She expressed that she is not without hope, however. “What we also see, what we cannot miss, is the resistance,” she said. “There is hope, there is power in all of us standing up, organizing, protesting, voting and caring for each other, and refusing to accept that this is the new normal.”
Long-Term Commitment
The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Program, launched 18 years ago, supports young people in her native South Africa. The program has reached over 4.5 million youths and provided $15 million to organizations in southern Africa.
On the red carpet, Theron stated, “It’s quite devastating what’s going to happen…It’s less than one percent of this budget that everyone is talking about and when you compare that to the millions of people that are going to die because of this, it’s devastating. It does feel like this event is a little more important than it was last year.”
Theron also actively lobbies elected officials. “We do it quite a bit,” she noted, adding, “I will say there are a lot of people who do pick up the phone and are willing to listen and are on our side of understanding.”
The event included a live auction and a performance by Reneé Rapp. As of 2023, the U.S. government’s foreign aid budget was approximately $55 billion, with ongoing debates about its allocation (State Department).
Theron’s ongoing commitment underscores her dedication to making a difference and advocating for vulnerable populations.