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The SAG Awards Is Making A Huge Change For This Year’s Ceremony—And We’re All About It

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It’s almost as though all of history has traditionally been so terrible for women that the universe flipped the karmic script and threw us a bone in 2017. The #MeToo movement, a bunch of powerful men losing their jobs as a result of sexual misconduct, Roy Moore’s defeat thanks to African-American voters, and now, for the first time ever: The 2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony will be presented by women. Only women.

Most awards ceremonies pair male and female presenters, and the SAGs have historically been no exception. Not this year! Better still, the host for this night of celebration will be Kristen Bell, who told The New York Times:

“Culturally, there’s always been a conversation about equality. Now there’s some mega-spotlights on this conversation and, dare I say, some pyrotechnics in the background. I’m not the first female host. I’m the first host. The fact that a female was chosen to be the first one means my genitals become irrelevant.”

It is important to keep the female-powered ball rolling in a post-Harvey-Weinstein world, and although there are sure to be plenty of men onstage winning awards, the prevalence of female-heavy ensemble casts nominated is a sure sign things are heading in the right direction.

SAG Awards executive producer Kathy Connell told the told the Hollywood Reporter that this decision was meant to empower females, especially the silence breakers who helped bring about the cosmic shift currently ousting sexual creeps from positions of power. “Beginning with the Women’s March in January, it’s been the year of the woman,” she said. “This is a unifying salute to women who have been very brave and speaking up.”

She also insisted this was not about punishing men for their behavior. “We don’t want to slight the men who have given great performances this year,” she said. “Knowing our membership, I’m sure our men will embrace the opportunity to honor women.” At least you’d hope so.

Here are just a few of our favorite reactions from celebrities who nominated for this year’s SAGs:

Millie Bobby Brown, Female Actor in a Drama Series for Stranger Things:

https://twitter.com/milliebbrown/status/940977427743772674

Allison Janney, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for I, Tonya:

Laverne Cox, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, for Orange is the New Black:

Uzo Aduba, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series, for Orange Is the New Black:

https://twitter.com/UzoAduba/status/940988848716374016

Allison Williams, Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, for Get Out:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bcpb8hPF9_s/

Margot Robbie, Female Actor in a Leading Role for I, Tonya:

“I’m so incredibly moved and excited to be nominated by my fellow actors. I feel very fortunate to be able to have had the opportunity to bring Tonya’s story to the big screen,” Robbie said in a statement. “Thank you to Steven for his brilliant and unique script, to Allison and Sebastian for being such incredible screen partners and to Craig for his amazing direction and perfectly capturing the tone and essence of the film. I’m so honored to be recognized among the truly powerful and wonderful women in the category. I can’t wait to celebrate with everyone.”

Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, for The Big Sick:

https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/940963671857029120

Nicole Kidman, Outstanding  Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series, for Big Little Lies:

“What an amazing morning! Thank you to SAG-AFTRA for recognizing Big Little Lies in such a significant way. I’ve been acting since I was 14 and have dedicated an enormous amount of my life to my craft so to be acknowledged by my acting family is the most incredible honor.”

Sterling K. Brown, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series, for This Is Us: