Jennifer Coolidge urges graduates to embrace weirdness in 'White Lotus'-inspired speech
WASHINGTON, US: Award-winning actress Jennifer Coolidge graced the stage at Washington University in St Louis to deliver an inspiring commencement speech to the Class of 2024, as reported by 'Good Morning America'.
Coolidge, known for her iconic roles in 'Legally Blonde' and 'The White Lotus', shared words of wisdom and encouragement with over 3,400 undergraduate and graduate students as they bid farewell to their alma mater.
Jennifer Coolidge inspires graduates with commencement speech
Coolidge's speech centered around the theme of self-acceptance and embracing one's journey. She reassured the graduates that it's okay not to have everything figured out right away, drawing from her own experience.
"You don't have to leave here today and sort of have it all figured out. I didn't. And I don't know, maybe the delay sort of helped me in some way," she candidly shared.
Drawing from her diverse repertoire of characters, Coolidge urged the audience to embrace their weirdness. Referencing her role as Tanya in 'The White Lotus', she encouraged graduates to embrace their quirks and idiosyncrasies as they navigate the real world.
"I stand before you as a weird person. Get to know yourself, accept who you are, and love that person because this is the moment. You already are everything you need to be,” she affirmed.
Coolidge's speech resonated deeply with attendees, eliciting heartfelt responses from fans who shared clips of her speech on TikTok.
Internet applauds Jennifer Coolidge's 'White Lotus' commencement speech
@washu @Jennifer Coolidge you look like the 4th of July :star-struck: #jennifercoolidge #WashU #WashU24 #commencement #graduation #classof2024 #legallyblonde ♬ original sound - sophia
Following Coolidge's speech, fans took to TikTok to express their heartfelt reactions. One user described, "Such a heartwarming and uplifting speech. You don’t have to know it all but you will get where you want to be." Another shared their personal struggles, expressing gratitude for Coolidge's reassuring words.
Another shared, "I wish someone had told me that. I felt like a failure because I couldn’t get it together," said another, while a third wrote, "now THAT is a graduation speech.
Fans responded similarly to a clip of the actress on campus posted by Washington University, with one commenting, "She makes me want a degree real bad," referencing a scene in Legally Blonde.
Some fans referred to Coolidge as "iconic" and exclaimed, "What a dream!!!," while many admitted to feeling jealous of the university and the graduating students.
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