As Hollywood preps for its biggest night, the 2025 Oscars celebration on March 2, Sheryl Lee Ralph is getting ready to serve. The Abbott Elementary Emmy-winning star is co-hosting The Elton John AIDS Foundation’s annual Oscar viewing party in Los Angeles. It’s an annual display of philanthropy and awareness—and the hottest ticket outside of being inside the Dolby Theatre for the Oscar ceremony’s live broadcast.
“Everybody wants to be there,” Ralph declared to EBONY, expressing her enthusiasm for co-hosting the event. “I was thrilled because I believe in the mission, and I believe that it remains necessary to share information with a new generation about safe sex and keeping themselves free of HIV.”
Her urgency is underscored by a sobering reality: a resurgence of HIV cases among Gen Z, a generation seemingly removed from the harrowing days of the 1990s. Ralph, who witnessed the epidemic’s devastating impact during her Broadway career, shared, “A young man just told me, ‘Ms. Ralph, my friend died last week.’ And I’m like, of what? He said of AIDS. And he was maybe 34 years old.” Noting that a “whole generation has passed since the high point of the virus” has fueled her determination to raise awareness. “The fact that young people are now still dying of this, are still playing Russian roulette with their lives, it frightens me,” she stated.
Beyond the gravity of the cause, the evening promises to be a night of high glamour and exquisite style. “Look fabulous,” Ralph quipped, outlining her duties. “Speak fabulous. Be fabulous. In short, bring the fabulosity.” She’s tasked her stylist to craft a look that is “fresh and young-ish, but age-appropriate and a bit of the sexy.” As for the event’s coordination, she revealed, “Elton says, show up, show out. Have a great time.”
Ralph recalled how amazing the viewing party has been in past years. “First of all, they’ve got one of the greatest red carpets ever. And it’s long and fabulous and very bright. Everybody looks so beautiful. And the fact that everybody wants to be there just adds so much to the evening.”
It’s not too much of a surprise that Ralph will be rooting for fellow Broadway performers who are nominated for Oscars this year, namely 2024 EBONY Power 100 Pathbreaker honoree and cover star Cynthia Erivo, who is nominated for Actress in a Leading Role for her work as Elphaba in Wicked. “When I see the talent that is under Elphaba, under the green, and what that whole thing means, how can I not root for her.” She also acknowledged the powerful performances in Anatomy of a Fall and I’m Still Here, noting the unique landscape of this year’s awards.
Still, the evening is more than just a social gathering for the actress and activist: it’s an extension of her lifelong dedication to service, particularly through her DIVA (Divinely Inspired Victoriously AIDS Aware) Foundation. “It’s always rolled into it,” she affirmed about the connection between her organization and John’s viewing event. “How can I not talk about the Divinely Inspired Victoriously AIDS Aware Foundation when I’m there? It’s just a part of who I am.”
Ralph won’t get much time to rest after the night is done. She’s embarking on a journey to speak at a Women’s History Month event overseas. “We seem to have stopped celebrating a lot of the people who are part of the country, and many of them are women,” she declared. “I believe that women are absolutely the future, and we must come together to be heard.”
The 97th Academy Awards airs live on March 2, starting at 7 p.m. on ABC and streams on Hulu.
