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WNBA star Brittney Griner is paying it forward now that she’s officially back home after being detained in Russia for 10 months.
On Thursday, she made a surprise appearance at Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network’s Women’s Empowerment Luncheon at the Sheraton in New York.
“I want to continue to fight to bring home every American detained overseas. That means everything to me,” she told the crowd.
Griner attended the event with her wife, Cherelle. The basketball star spoke about her “challenging time” being detained in Russia.
“You never know how alone you feel, but when you know people back at home are praying for you, rooting for you, supporting you… that’s what keeps you going,” she said.
U.N. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield delivered the keynote address, and thanked Sharpton for the “critical work that you and this organization did to bring Brittney home.”
“It’s especially important for us right now as we work for the safe return of Evan [Gershkovich], the Wall Street [Journal] jounalist… as well as [former Marine] Paul Whelan and every single American who’s being unjustly detained,” Thomas-Greenfield said.
Griner wasn’t the only surprise guest at the NAN luncheon. Magic Johnson took the stage and ’80s R&B crooner Al B. Sure serenaded the crowd.
It was Sure’s first performance since having a liver transplant and a tracheotomy, as well as being in a medically-induced coma for two months. “I’m grateful to be alive,” he said.
He performed a couple of verses from the Quincy Jones-produced tune, “The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite).”
The crowd was pleased.
Revolt TV anchor Mara Schiavocampo hosted the luncheon, which also honored Shaunie Henderson, CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller and the Links Incorporated national president Ethel Isaacs Williams.
Tamron Hall appeared as a speaker at the start of the day, and opened up about Sharpton being the first person she called when she left the “Today” show.
Sharpton’s NAN convention kicked off on Wednesday, with its annual Keepers of the Dream Awards gala, where Tyler Perry, Andrew Young, Hill Harper, Jennifer Jones-Austin, Jane Rosenthal and Dr. Alfred Seawright were honored.
Mayor Eric Adams presented Perry with his award, and the movie mogul revealed he was suffering from “compassion fatigue,” during his speech.
“In a nutshell, what it is, is when you give, and you give, and you give so much of yourself, that people plug into you and they take and they take – pretty soon you find your cup completely empty,” he said.
Robert De Niro presented his Tribeca Festival partner, Jane Rosenthal, with her award — and was also greeted by a secret admirer-slash-heckler in the front row.
Bevy Smith brought laughter to the gala when she got the “Taxi Driver” legend into her act from her seat. Smith pushed up her bosom and declared herself as “Bevy De Niro,” before jokingly (we think?) threatening, “I’d Nancy Kerrigan your ass” to any woman who dared get in her way.
T.J. Holmes’ estranged wife, Marilee was among those spotted chuckling at Smith’s antics.
Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to speak at the ongoing convention on Friday.
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