Accepting the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Imitation Game, Graham Moore absolutely stole the show tonight with one of the most heartfelt and moving Oscar acceptance speeches I’ve ever seen.
Revealing a deeply personal moment from his teen years, Moore urged those out there who feel like they don’t belong to “stay weird,” and remember that they have a place in this world. It was an incredibly genuine moment on stage, and at least for me, was easily the highlight of the entire evening.
When I was 16 years old, I tried to kill myself.
Because I felt weird, and I felt different, and I felt like I did not belong. And now I’m standing here.
And so I would like for this moment to be for that kid out there who feels like she’s weird, or she’s different, or she doesn’t fit in anywhere.
Yes you do. I promise you do.
Stay weird. Stay different. And then when it’s your turn, and you are standing on this stage, please pass the same message to the next person who comes along.
