The 22nd Annual Unforgettable Gala was a night to remember. It was also a night to be “Unforgettable Together,” as was the theme of this year’s celebration — allies and API stars came together in community to uplift the biggest names in entertainment of 2024.
The Unforgettable Gala is now in its 22nd year of celebrating API excellence, and this year’s event was no different. Changemakers and honorees of all walks of life were invited to the festivities, which took place at The Beverly Hilton on Saturday, Dec. 14. This was the second year the ceremony was broadcasted live on AAPI network ChimeTV, with plans to not only rerun on the network, but to be added to streamer GoldenTV’s library of content. The celebration would not have been possible without the help of our incredible sponsors: Cadillac, Vizio MicMe, Yaamava Resort & Casino, Amazon MGM Studios, 21ROCS, 99 Ranch Market, Bank of Hope, The Boiling Crab, Green Rock, South Coast Plaza, Ten Advertising, Tower 28 and more. Back for year two was the global production and entertainment company AsiaLab, which, once again, facilitated the inclusion of international recipients at this year’s celebration.
The night kicked off with a star-studded red carpet, with API stars of all generations hitting their best poses for the camera. Actors Hiroyuki Sanada, Jamie Chung and Hoa Xuande took their place among magnificent plum-colored step-and-repeats, which featured this year’s theme in bold script, “Unforgettable Together.” Performers also graced the carpet, from K-pop star Wonho, to Vietnamese American songstress, thùyand 90s heartthrobs, 98 Degrees. What’s more, the celebs on the carpet had the chance to participate in a historic marker for the Unforgettable Gala: Its first-ever Red Carpet Pre-Show, which aired before the ceremony on ChimeTV. Hosts Jennifer Paz and Jannelle So-Perkins interviewed stars like Awkwafina, honoree Prabal Gurung, the cast of Netflix’s “XO, Kitty,” and many more, getting the dish on their red carpet fashion, thoughts on this year’s ceremony and upcoming projects. After the carpet, guests, honorees and celebrities alike made their way to the Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom for a delicious three-course meal, the menu specially curated by Chef Tara Monsod, a 2024 James Beard Award Finalist. Dinner beverages were provided to guests by 21 ROCS.
Soon after the dessert course, the CEO of Golden Media, Takashi Cheng, opened the room with some inspiring remarks. “As you explore the designs throughout our gala this evening, you may notice the Japanese art of Kintsugi, the art of repairing broken pottery with gold,” said Cheng. “This was our way of symbolizing what it means to be Unforgettable Together. It’s not about creating a perfect seamless picture that fits into the world’s perceptions. Rather, it’s about taking those fragments, those pieces and putting them back together in a way that makes something even more beautiful and beyond expectations. Following his speech, selection committee co-chairs and keynote speakers Adele Lim and Eugene Lee Yang made their way to the stage for a speech that split the difference between sincerity and levity. With that, the 22nd Annual Unforgettable Gala commenced.
Taking stage as the first host of the night was everyone’s favorite queer, immigrant daughter, Stephanie Hsu, who played Joy/Jobu Tupaki in 2022’s “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” Hsu kicked off the night with a side-splitting speech, where she questioned how everyone butchers the pronunciation “Hsu,” but can somehow get “Ralph,” as in “Ralph Fiennes,” correct and joked about the copious amount of leftovers she was planning to take home in her own personal tupperware — courtesy of being raised with an Asian immigrant household mindset. The actor closed her speech with a heartful toast to being in such strong community with other API creatives.
After an introduction from Oscar-nominee-turned-UNFO-host Hsu, Wonho took the stage, performing four original songs, one of which was his new track, “What Would You Do.” The Korean idol hyped up the UNFO crowd with explosive dance moves from him and his backup dancers — a perfect way to start the evening. From there, presenters Anna Cathcart of “XO, Kitty” and Sam Song Li of “The Brothers Sun” introduced the first awardee of the night, “DìDi”’s Izaac Wang for Breakout in Film. “I just want to say thank you to Unforgettable Gala, Character Media and Golden TV for giving me this award,” said the young actor. “This is like me getting an ‘A’ in physics…I never get ‘As.’ And so now my parents expect a lot from me.” Wang joked.
The ceremony continued with actor Hoa Xuande winning Breakout in TV for his role in HBO’s adaptation of “The Sympathizer,” and to make it all the sweeter, he was presented the award by the novel’s author Viet Thanh Nguyen and actor Ji-Young Yoo). Up next were reality stars, Bachelorette Jenn Tran and Real Housewife Crystal Kung Minkoff, who presented money maestra Vivian Tu with the Digital Influencer award. Other awards of the night included Anna Sawai (Actor in TV), Joan Chen (Actor in Film), Sean Wang (Director), Rachel Kondo (Writer), Naomi Watanabe (Global Groundbreaker), Gurung (Cultural Icon) and Lakers Legends (Community Impact). This year saw even more talent on the UNFO stage, as it was the first time multiple API celebs took a crack at hosting. Never Have I Ever”’s Maitreyi Ramakrishnan started “beef” with “Nobody Wants This”’s Sherry Cola, and third and final host, Filipino comedian, JR de Guzman, who comically sang his way through Unforgettable’s unforgettable sponsors.
Two of the biggest awards were saved for the end of the night, “Avatar: The Last Airbender” for Vanguard and internationally beloved actor Hiroyuki Sanada for Global Icon.
The Avatar cast and crew were presented the Vanguard award by original Zuko voice actor Dante Basco and long-standing Hollywood favorite, Jamie Chung. Writer and executive producer Albert Kim made a gracious speech, recognizing the weight of the phrase “Good job!” when it comes from “A group of overachieving Asians who know what it’s like to grow up starved for praise.” Kim went on to thank the entire production team, and, of course, the talented cast standing behind him. He then handed the mic over to the fresh-faced Gordon Cormier, who plays the series protagonist, Aang, for a few words.
“I remember last year I was down there looking at everybody winning thinking, ‘That’s so cool!’” Cormier said about his experience with the Unforgettable Gala. “Now, getting to stand up here with my fellow castmates… I love you all so much. You inspire me everyday.”
The renowned Sanada, whose acting career spans over 60 years, received his Global Icon accolade from Chin Han and Will Yun Lee, both well-regarded for their achievements in international and national film. Sanada thanked both Han and Lee, calling them his “coworkers,” and then praised the Unforgettable Gala. “I love this atmosphere!” the actor said. “Everybody looks happy, respecting each other… I’m so happy to be here.”
Accompanying the excitement of the awards were other incredible performances by artists from years past and present. Vietnamese American singer thùy got the crowd on their feet for her viral hit “girls like me don’t cry,” making her way into the audience and even getting down with Hollywood legend, Joan Chen. The night also featured a medley from musicians of different generations, which included 80s group The Jets, DJ Icy Ice, Jocelyn Enriquez, Pinay, MC Jin, and indie boyband, Weston Estate, as well as a martial arts performance from Motion Arts Association.
The 22nd Annual Unforgettable Gala closed out with a bang, as Hawaiian boyband Party Foul performed two new songs. At the end of their second number, the members of the boy group began singing an arrangement of “The Hardest Thing” by 98 Degrees, and took a moment to bring out the 90s boyband — more of a “manband” now — to the stage. From there, Nick Lachey and the other 98 Degrees members took it away, bringing the ceremony to a raucous, fangirl-forward, close.
The night didn’t end there, though. After the show, attendees made their way to The Beverly Hilton Ballroom for a tasty and boozy afterparty featuring performances from up-and-coming musicians RC AVENUE, Nicole Han, kidsnot$aints., Wes Patrick, Party Foul and Brooke Alexx. Guests also got to enjoy activations from stellar brands like Boba Guys, Vizio and Rihanna’s own, Fenty Beauty — with even more goodies awaiting after-partygoers in their stacked gift bags. From there, the guests of the 22nd Annual Unforgettable Gala danced into the night.
Watch the 22nd Annual Unforgettable Gala on ChimeTV, or subscribe to GoldenTV to stream the awards ceremony.
WINNERS
BREAKOUT IN FILM
Presented by Anna Cathcart and Sam Song Li
Izaac Wang, “DìDi”
BREAKOUT IN TV
Presented by Viet Thanh Nguyen and Ji-young Yoo
Hoa Xuande, “The Sympathizer”
DIGITAL INFLUENCER
Presented by Jenn Tran and Crystal Kung Minkoff
Vivian Tu
DIRECTOR
Presented by Wes Chan and Phil Wang
Sean Wang, “DìDi”
WRITER
Presented by Michelle Sugihara and Charles Yu
Rachel Kondo, “Shōgun”
ACTOR IN TV
Presented by Alicia Hannah-Kim and Jimmy O. Yang
Anna Sawai, “Shōgun”
ACTOR IN FILM
Presented by Daniel Wu
Joan Chen, “DìDi”
CULTURAL ICON
Presented by Bing Chen and Jeanne Yang
Prabal Gurung
GLOBAL GROUNDBREAKER
Presented by Asif Ali and Mike Angelo
Naomi Watanabe
VANGUARD
Presented by Dante Basco and Jamie Chung
“Avatar: The Last Airbender”
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Presented by Cecilia Scott
Lakers Legends
GLOBAL ICON
Presented by Chin Han and Will Yun Lee
Hiroyuki Sanada
