Ariana DeBose's Opening Monologue at 2023 Tony Awards: The Reason Behind Her Unscripted Speech

Ariana DeBose is set to celebrate her Broadway peers at the 76th annual Tony Awards with the same fanfare she has always brought to the stage. The 32-year-old began the show with a blank script before unleashing an elaborate dance number throughout the United Palace, ultimately ending up on the stage. DeBose revealed that there were no words in her script because the Writers Guild of America (WGA) is on strike.

"Our siblings over at the WGA are currently on strike in pursuit of a fair deal," she said. "Award shows are traditionally written by members of the WGA. In order for this show to go on, a whole host of people had to come together to find a compromise. To every single person who had a hand in finding that compromise, I say a full-throated thank you!"

DeBose knew that audiences would wonder why this was relevant. "So now you’re asking, what’s the compromise? Well, we don’t have a script, you guys. Yeah, I’m live and unscripted — you’re welcome," she quipped. "So to anyone who may have thought last year was a bit unhinged, to them I say, ‘Darlings, buckle up.'"

DeBose subsequently explained that every presenter at the event was unscripted. "We’re just making it up as we go along. And that’s cool. Again, it’s a blessing to be here."

The monitors on the sides of the stage will display a countdown for acceptance speeches that go long, but DeBose added, "Honeys, take your moment. Tonight is about you."

The Oscar winner, who got her start performing in Broadway productions, hosted the 2022 ceremony and wowed everyone with a show-stopping medley of Great White Way hits, including “Somewhere” from West Side Story. She was also asked back for the 2023 ceremony. It marks her first live performance since her rap at the 2023 BAFTAs went viral. During the February awards show, she hosted the ceremony and shouted out all of the female nominees in song. However, social media users criticized DeBose’s lyrics and musical tone. Though, both the actress and the BAFTAs producers defended the show bit.

For DeBose, getting up on stage last Sunday was still nerve-wracking. "Have I developed a little bit of stage fright? I would be lying if I said, ‘no,’" she confessed. “But I also challenge myself and I do scary things every day. And if I’m afraid of something, I should probably do it...I don’t understand that part of society."