The Broadway actor lashed out at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (Republican) for calling him the Sunshine State’s “current wizard” while attending the Tony Awards.
Denny Benton took the stage on Sunday at the 76th Annual Awards, which honor the work of New York City’s famous theater district.
“Early tonight, [Carnegie Mellon University] And the Tony Awards have presented the 2023 Award for Excellence in Teaching Drama,” Benton, star of Broadway’s “Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812,” told the crowd at the ceremony, which was broadcast by CBS.
“And I’m sorry, Governor, the current Archmage of my home state of Florida, but I’m sure it’s going to change…” Mr. Benton said, stopping with a laugh as the audience erupted in applause. A Crux Klan-inspired smear aimed at 2024 Republican presidential candidate DeSantis.
“I’m sure he’ll change the name of this next town soon,” Benton laughs, acknowledging the award-winning teacher from Plantation, Florida.
A spokesperson for the governor’s office did not immediately respond to ITK’s request for comment on Benton’s remarks.
The Tony Award-nominated performer did not cite a motive behind the minor injuries, but the NAACP issued a travel advisory to Florida due to its perceived anti-black policies.
“Anyone who continues to watch what’s going on in Florida understands that Florida has become an inherently hostile neighborhood for black people,” said co-founder of Black Voters Matter. and executive director Cliff Albright said last month.
Mr. DeSantis came under fire earlier this year when his administration refused to open an advanced course in African American studies in a Florida school. The DeSantis administration said the content of the course “inexplicably violates Florida law” and is “significantly in violation.” [lacked] educational value. ”
“What we want is education, not indoctrination,” DeSantis said of the move in January.
This isn’t the first time an entertainer has made headlines with a political attack from Tony’s stage.
In 2018, Robert De Niro received a standing ovation for repeatedly declaring “f—Trump” in criticism of the then-president.
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