During Sunday’s Tony Awards, Broadway actress Denée Benton compared Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to the “Grand Wizard”, Ku Klux Klan commander.

Benton took the stage during the live broadcast on CBS and Paramount+ to present Carnegie Mellon University’s Excellence in Theatre Education Award. The 2023 recipient is Jason Zembuch Young from South Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida.

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Benton mentioned in her remarks that she is not only a CMU alumna, but also a Florida native.

“Earlier tonight, CMU and the Tony Awards presented the 2023 Excellence in Theatre Education Award. And while I am certain that the current Grand Wizard — I’m sorry, excuse me, governor — of my home state of Florida…,” she said, as the audience applauded. “I am sure that he will changing the name of this following town immediately.”

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Who is Denee Benton

Benton’s Broadway credits include Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, Hamilton, and Into the Woods. She has also been on Lifetime’s Unreal and HBO’s The Gilded Age.

Her remarks were given without the assistance of a writer as this year’s Tony Awards ceremony took place during the ongoing writers strike after organisers reached an agreement with the WGA to proceed without a script as a concession to the guild, which vowed not to picket the event.

Reaction from People

The gesture of Benton has been accepted very positively by people. Praises were heaped on her on several social media platforms

DeSantis’ Reaction

DeSantis, who launched his presidential candidature last month, has yet to openly react on his social media outlets. He’s running on the Republican ticket, with former President Donald Trump.

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Since assuming office in 2019, DeSantis has taken a number of decisions that have sparked outrage and debate among civil rights activists, including signing the so-called Don’t Say Gay bill. When the Walt Disney Company criticised the measure, he retaliated by removing the special tax district around Walt Disney World and seized control of the area’s governing body.