1.
When the crowd at the US Open in 2018 booed Naomi Osaka for beating Serena Williams, and Williams wrapped her arm around the new tennis pro and used her platform to call out the crowd’s toxic behavior.
3.
When Jessica Walter revealed in a New York Times interview (through tears) that Jeffrey Tambor verbally assaulted her during filming of Arrested Development. No one but costar Alia Shawkat came to her defense, while the men of the cast (Jason Bateman, Tony Hale, and David Cross) believed Walter was essentially blowing things out of proportion.
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4.
When Christine McVie defended Stevie Nicks on a Fleetwood Mac tour in the late ’70s. According to Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham threw his electric guitar at her during a show: “From Christine [McVie’s] vantage point, she’d see it all — so, she took it to heart that night. Lindsey left the stage. I chased him down, but Christine beat me to him.”
5.
When Chappell Roan was starting to blow up in the music industry in early 2024, notable musicians reached out to offer their support. They know the business is notoriously hard on women, so artists like Miley Cyrus, Mitski, and Phoebe Bridgers, who’ve been through it, took Roan under their wing in one way or another. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Roan revealed Mitski texted her, “I just wanted to humbly welcome you to the shittiest exclusive club in the world, the club where strangers think you belong to them and they find and harass your family members.”
6.
When Camila Cabello, Cyndi Lauper, and other female musicians showed their support for Kesha at the 2018 Grammys after producer Dr. Luke was accused of sexually assaulting her.
7.
When Ariana Grande was physically attacked by a fan on the Wicked: For Good red carpet, and Cynthia Erivo swooped in, pushed him off of her, and then made sure her friend and costar was alright.
And then, when a troll online turned the scary event into a racist and misogynistic meme, and SZA came to Erivo’s defense in the comments.
8.
When Oscar-winner Lady Gaga brought out fellow Oscar-winner Liza Minnelli on stage at the ceremony in 2022. Gaga graciously helped Minnelli out when she struggled with her notecards and gave her the praise she so rightly deserved.
9.
When Lucille Ball gave up-and-comer Carol Burnett career advice backstage after seeing her in Once Upon a Mattress in 1959. Burnett’s career ebbed and flowed in the beginning, and when she didn’t have any job opportunities, Ball hired her as a guest star on The Lucy Show before she got her big break in 1967.
10.
When Amy Poehler organized a funny Miss Universe-like bit at the 2011 Emmys to celebrate every woman nominated for Best Actress, rather than make it a competition.
11.
When Oprah hosted a Legends Ball in 2006, an event where young Black women in Hollywood celebrated trailblazers who came before them, like Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Maya Angelou, and Ruby Dee (among others).
12.
When Adele stopped in the middle of her 2017 Grammys acceptance speech to talk about the huge impact Beyoncé and her Lemonade album had on her life.
13.
When Whitney Houston surprised humongous fan Brandy during a rehearsal for the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards in 1995. During their first meeting, Houston checked in on 16-year-old Brandy and asked how she was handling her newfound fame in the music industry.
14.
When Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie were doing press for Eternals and they couldn’t help but praise each other for being the mindful, present, funny, and amazing actors and women they truly are.
15.
When Simone Biles withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 because she wanted to take care of her mental health, she received a ton of backlash. Michelle Obama then took to Instagram to let her know just how proud she was of her decision.
16.
When Sheryl Lee Ralph defended her Abbott Elementary co-star Quinta Brunson after Jimmy Kimmel stole the spotlight during Quinta’s groundbreaking Emmys speech. Ralph said, “I was like, ‘I wish that man would just get up off of the ground.’ Then, I realized it was Jimmy Kimmel, and I was like, ‘Oh, the disrespect, Jimmy!’ But that’s just me.”
17.
When Taraji P. Henson gave Viola Davis (the first Black woman to win Lead Actress for a Drama Series) a standing ovation at the Emmys, even though she lost to her.
18.
When Barbra Streisand appeared on The Judy Garland Show in 1963 at the beginning of her career, Garland gave her advice. She visited Streisand in New York City, saying things like, “Don’t let them do to you what they did to me.”
19.
When Mariah Carey went up on the American Idol stage to hug superfan Kelly Clarkson, and the two singers gushed over each other’s legendary voices and musical talents.
20.
When Diana Ross surprised Beyoncé during her Renaissance tour and sang “Happy Birthday” to her. Ross gave Beyoncé nothing but praise on her birthday, calling her a revolutionary artist. And, like the respectful person she is, Beyoncé returned the favor through tears.
21.
When Cate Blanchett revealed what it was like meeting Sarah Paulson for the first time, and how Paulson’s wonderful reputation preceded her.
22.
When Angela Bassett (who earned an Oscar nomination and should have WON for What’s Love Got to Do with It) visited Adrienne Warren backstage at Tina: The Tina Turner Musical in 2018, and praised her for portraying Tina Turner so brilliantly.
23.
When the women of The View came to Sophie Turner’s defense after the harsh reactions to Joe Jonas’ divorce from her. According to TMZ, Jonas allegedly claims that Turner “likes to party [and] he likes to stay at home.” So, View hosts like Sunny Hostin addressed the sexism of it all.
24.
When Janis Joplin bought a burial plot for one of her musical heroes, Bessie Smith, decades after the blues singer’s death, because the legendary blues singer never had one (despite her groundbreaking influence in the music industry).
25.
When Taylor Swift inducted Carole King into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and gave her nothing but high praise, recognition, and flowers for paving the way for female songwriters in the music industry.
26.
And when Leslie Jones made her first appearance on The View in 2016, she told Whoopi Goldberg how much she had been influenced by growing up as a Black woman and as a comedian.
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