Selena Gomez to Receive Equity in Entertainment Award at The Hollywood Reporter’s 2024 Women in Entertainment Gala

The Hollywood Reporter said Wednesday that Selena Gomez will receive this year’s Equity in Entertainment Award at THR’s annual Women in Entertainment breakfast gala presented by Lifetime, which is set for Dec. 4 in Los Angeles. 

Gomez joins Nicole Kidman, who as previously announced will receive the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award, as an honoree at this year’s gala.

The Equity in Entertainment Award recognizes individuals who amplify the voices of underrepresented communities in the entertainment industry. The award was created in 2016, and previous honorees include Kerry Washington, Issa Rae, Ryan Murphy, Amy Pascal, Nina Jacobson and Selma Blair. 

“Selena Gomez has long inspired people worldwide not just as an incredible entertainer, but also as an individual deeply committed to advocacy,” THR co-editors-in-chief Nekesa Mumbi Moody and Maer Roshan said. “From raising awareness and funds in support of youth mental health through the Rare Impact Fund to her lupus advocacy and beyond, Selena is someone who puts in the work. She is a standout leader actively paving the way towards a more equitable and inclusive future for everyone and we are so excited to honor her with this year’s Equity in Entertainment Award.”

Gomez is one of the most globally and culturally celebrated artists, actors, producers, entrepreneurs and philanthropists of her generation. Currently, the Emmy-nominated Gomez executive produces and stars in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building opposite Steve Martin and Martin Short. Gomez received multiple Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award nominations for best actress in a comedy series for her role.  

Gomez can next be seen in Jacques Audiard’s Oscar contender Emilia Pérez, for Netflix. In May, she and her three co-stars shared the best performance by an actress honor for their roles in the film at the Cannes Film Festival.  

As a producer, she has produced the hit Netflix series 13 Reasons Why and the Netflix docuseries Living Undocumented. She is the most Emmy-nominated Latina producer in history. 

The Grammy-nominated recording artist has sold more than 191 million singles and has over 38 billion streams worldwide. 

In 2019, Gomez launched her beauty line Rare Beauty exclusively with Sephora. As part of the partnership, Gomez announced the Rare Impact Fund, pledging to raise $100 million for mental health services for individuals in underserved communities. Gomez is also the co-founder of Wondermind, a mental health ecosystem. Philanthropy and activism have been key pillars of Gomez’s career, and she has used her platform to advocate for many important causes including UNICEF, Make-A-Wish, The Lupus Research Alliance and Center for Countering Digital Hate. She has also collaborated with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris, Stacey Abrams, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and other world leaders. 

Attended by 600 industry leaders and VIPs, the gala coincides with the release of THR’s highly anticipated Women in Entertainment issue, which highlights the Power 100, a list of the most powerful female executives and talent in entertainment. 

The gala will also be attended by approximately 30 high school juniors and seniors currently participating in THR’s pioneering Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program. An annual highlight of the breakfast, this year’s celebration will see more than $1 million in university scholarships presented to high school seniors from the program. The mentorship program, which is a joint venture with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, will celebrate its 15th anniversary at the gala. 

THR‘s Women in Entertainment event is presented by Lifetime, which has been one of the WIE Mentorship Program’s biggest supporters, having contributed more than $1.7 million in scholarships over the past eight years. The event is also sponsored by Delta Air Lines, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, SAG-AFTRA and WME and presented in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, Chapman University and Loyola Marymount University.

The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program is a fiscally sponsored fund of the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

The news comes on the heels of THR’s 53 nominations at the 17th annual National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards, including best website.