PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Pence jokes with ‘enemy of the people’ at Gridiron Dinner
President Donald Trump has declared that the media are the “enemy of the people,” but his administration is willing to joke around with reporters — and poke fun at itself — in a venerable Washington tradition.
Vice President Mike Pence set aside his own spat with the media — he chastised the Associated Press on Saturday for publishing his wife’s email address — to speak at the 132nd annual Gridiron Dinner, a comedic white-tie affair featuring skits, songs and speeches. He called the dinner “a light-hearted respite” from bruising beltway politics and dished out a number of jokes, including a dig at last week’s Academy Awards.
“We haven’t seen that many shocked Hollywood liberals since Nov. 8,” Pence said, recalling Trump’s upset Election Day victory.
The dinner is a Washington tradition.
Another award for Viola Davis: Harvard Artist of the Year
Fresh from her best supporting actress Oscar win for her role in “Fences,” Viola Davis went to Harvard University to receive the 2017 Artist of the Year Award from the Harvard Foundation.
Davis was honored at the Cultural Rhythms Festival on Saturday. She briefly came on stage before taking a seat to watch a series of musical performances by students. In addition to the Oscar, Davis has received the Critics’ Choice, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and British Academy of Films and Television Arts awards for her portrayal of Rose Maxson in the film adaptation of “Fences,” an August Wilson play.
Davis also won a Tony Award for the 2010 Broadway revival of the play.
Previous winners of the Harvard award include Quincy Jones, Matt Damon, Salma Hayek and Shakira.