Tears started flowing everywhere instantly when Ariana DeBose’s voice broke while announcing Ke Huy Quan’s Oscar win.
The “Everything Everywhere All At Once” star was given a standing ovation that lasted for more than 30 seconds, as he received his first Academy Award for best supporting actor.
The 51-year-old gained popularity among fans for his role as Waymond Wang in the action dramedy. He previously bagged wins at the Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globes, and Screen Actors Guild Awards too.
Here’s the full speech
The star started off by saying, “Thank you. Thank you. My mom is 84 years old and she’s at home watching. Mom, I just won an Oscar! My journey started on a boat. I spent a year in a refugee camp. And somehow, I ended up here on Hollywood’s biggest stage. They say stories like these only happen in the movies. I cannot believe it’s happening to me. This– this is the American dream. Thank you so much.”
He continued, “Thank you so much to the Academy for this honor of a lifetime. Thank you to my mom for the sacrifices she made to get me here. To my little brother, David, who calls me every day just to remind me to take care of myself: I love you, brother. Thank you to Ken for all of your support and for everything you’ve done. Thank you to A24, (directors) the Daniels, Jamie (Lee Curtis) and Michelle (Yeoh) and my ‘Goonies’ brother for life, Jeff Cohen.
Quan further added, “I owe everything to the love of my life, my wife, Echo, who month after month, year after year for 20 years, told me that one day my time will come. Dreams are something you have to believe in. I almost gave up on mine. To all of you out there, please keep your dreams alive. Thank you, thank you so much for welcoming me back. I love you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”