“Some even say that it has become the Met Gala for social causes,” Gayle King said last night inside the Pool on Park Avenue, where the third annual Caring for Women gala returned with King as the Master of Ceremonies. In just a few years, it’s become an evening with a reputation for guest lists that rivals the Oscars, whether it’s Leo DiCaprio on the dancefloor or Oprah on the mic. This year, the co-chair seats were stacked with stars like Salma Hayek Pinault, François-Henri Pinault, Camila Alves McConaughey, Matthew McConaughey, Carmelo Anthony, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Urs Fischer, Kim Kardashian, Donatella Versace, and Naomi Watts.
“Earlier this summer, a simple yet striking question went viral on TikTok,” said François-Henri Pinault on stage. “So take a moment to consider the question for yourself: Would you rather be stuck in a forest with a man or with a bear?” He asked the crowd. “Shockingly or not, most women chose the bear.” Viola Davis took the mic to convey a powerful message to the audience and survivors. “It’s love, active love, radical love, love that is running in short supply in this world,” she said. “But my God, we need it like water, the love that protects you, the love that makes you feel safe, that frees you. A love that can only live if we all do a love that’s not going to leave you behind, that can hold you, look into your eyes and tell you with deep conviction that you are not dirty.”
“Yesterday was the US Open, I saw Matthew and Camila there,” said King. “This is one of those things where you just love living in New York; there’s so much stuff going on all the time. This is what I like about what we get to do every night. We’re invited to do something and you can’t do everything. But the fact that you all chose to be in this room this particular night means something.”
It was still the first red carpet experience for some, like Stephanie Love-Patterson, president and CEO of the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). “We don’t often get this type of attention, and the fact that so many celebrities and wonderful people are filling this room all to talk about our organizations is amazing.” She noted that Salma co-chair Salma Hayek Pinault brought “absolutely amazing energy” for the cameras, that chatting with Lenny Kravitz “made my day.” It’s a party, after all, and parties have power, she says.