BELatina’s Weekend Recap: Critics Choice Awards, BAFTAs, Emilio Delgado, And More

Bad Bunny Birthday BELatina Latinx
Photo courtesy of Variance Magazine.

Happy Monday, dear readers.

We start the week celebrating our favorite Latino films of the year and saying goodbye to the iconic Emilio Delgado.

Here are the most important news of the weekend.

Bad Bunny celebrates his birthday with a massive show in Chicago

Bad Bunny Birthday BELatina Latinx
Photo courtesy of Variance Magazine.

Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (aka Bad Bunny) delivered an incredible show for Chicago on Thursday night. Not only was the show at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont sold out, but it so happened to be the Puerto Rican star’s 28th birthday. The singer-rapper had plenty to celebrate as he conquers yet another huge year in his career. Check the photos here.

West Side Story and Encanto received well-deserved BAFTA awards

Although “The Power of the Dog” was the night’s favorite at the EE British Academy Film Awards in London last Sunday night, Latin talent also took the honors.

The supporting actress went to Ariana DeBose, whose turn in West Side Story was her screen debut. DeBose paid tribute to the film’s casting director, Cindy Tolan, who earlier in the evening triumphed in her category. Tolan noted that Steven Spielberg’s update of the musical was the first film for 50 members of its cast, selected from some 30,000 hopefuls.

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Encanto was named best animation. Speaking on the podium, composer Germaine Franco said she had wanted to make a film that tells “my beautiful brown children they are seen and heard, and they’re important.”

President Biden nominates Carmen Cantor for Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs

Cantor BELatina Latinx
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American Diplomacy.

President Biden nominated Ambassador Carmen Cantor for Under Secretary for Insular and International Affairs. Cantor holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico and a master’s degree from the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico. The Ambassador is a senior executive service career member and currently serves as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federated States of Micronesia.

Ariana DeBose wins Critics Choice Award and honors Rita Moreno

Ariana DeBose Critics Choice BELatina Latinx
Photo courtesy of E Online.

Ariana DeBose won best supporting actress for playing Anita in West Side Story, a role Rita Moreno made famous in the 1961 original movie. “Wow, this is wild. I wrote some things down and yet my phone is over there. That’s unfortunate,” she said, joking at the beginning of her acceptance speech before thanking the critics for championing the musical remake.

DeBose also gave a shoutout to Rita Moreno, who was also nominated in the category for West Side Story for her role as Valentina. The 90-year-old star famously played the role of Anita in the 1961 original.

“To my fellow nominees: You are all so stinking glorious and I love you so much. You inspire me, and especially one fellow nominee, the great Rita Moreno,” DeBose said. “Seriously, you made space for me to thrive beside you — I am not in front of you, I am not behind you, I am beside you. And that is the greatest gift you could’ve ever given me.”

Senate passes Federal Funding Bill for 2022 including billions in DHS funding

After being drafted and approved by Congress, the Senate passed its $1.5 trillion federal funding bill, which increases Trump-era spending levels for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and maintains Customs and Border Protection (CBP) funding levels roughly the same. Included is funding to detain 34,000 people in abusive ICE detention and an increase of $10 million to ICE’s so-called “Alternatives to Detention” (ATD) programs which further restrict, surveil, and harm immigrant communities and have not resulted in fewer people in detention. The bill also fails to rescind billions of construction dollars for Trump’s lethal border wall.

Emilio Delgado, Sesame Street actor for 45 years, dies aged 81

Emilio Delgado BELatina Latinx
Photo courtesy of AP.

Actor and singer Emilio Delgado, the warm and familiar presence in children’s lives for 45 years as fix-it shop owner Luis on Sesame Street, has died.

His wife, Carol Delgado, said he died from blood cancer multiple myeloma at their home in New York. He was 81.

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