Former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Democratic philanthropist George Soros and actor and director Denzel Washington are among the 19 celebrities from various fields who will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the USA, at a ceremony in the White House.
US President Joe Biden has designated 19 celebrities from politics, sports, entertainment, civil rights, and LGBTQ activism to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom this year.
The White House announced that the winners have contributed exceptionally to the prosperity, values and security of the United States and world peace, or to other significant social, public, or private endeavors.
Four medals will be awarded posthumously. Honorees include Fannie Lou Hamer, who founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and laid the groundwork for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, former Justice Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, George Romney who served as Michigan's governor and served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Ash Carter, former Secretary of Defense.
Kennedy is the father of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was appointed by incoming US President Donald Trump as Secretary of Health, and Romney is the father of former Utah Republican Mitt Romney, one of Trump's biggest critics among conservatives.
Among the philanthropists receiving the award are Spanish-American chef Jose Andres, whose charity organization World Central Kitchen has become one of the most recognized charities in the world, and Bono, the frontman of rock group U2 and a social justice activist.
Among the stars from the world of sports and entertainment, football player Lionel Messi, basketball legend of the Los Angeles Lakers and businessman Earvin "Magic" Johnson, actor Michael J. Fox who advocates for research into the treatment of Parkinson's disease and scientist William Sanfrod Nye were awarded.
Other awardees include conservationist Jane Goodall, longtime Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, American fashion designer Ralph Lauren, founder of the American Film Institute George Stephen Jr., entrepreneur and LGBTQ+ activist Tim Gill and co-founder of global investment company Carlyle Group David Rubenstein.
And last year, Biden awarded 19 Presidential Medals of Freedom, and among the winners were Medgar Evers, Nancy Pelosi, James Klaber and actress Michelle Yeoh.
Bonus video:
