LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GoldenTV and Character Media proudly announce its full list of honorees and performers for the Dec. 14 Unforgettable Gala end-of-year celebration at the Beverly Hilton. Visionary fashion designer Prabal Gurung will receive the inaugural Cultural Icon award, and legendary actor Hiroyuki Sanada, star of Shōgun, is the inaugural Global Icon honoree. The 22nd Annual Unforgettable Gala is co-hosted by Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All At Once), Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Never Have I Ever), and comedian JR De Guzman (The Comedy Lineup).
Adding to the star-studded lineup of performances at UNFO are AAPI recording artists Thuy, Weston Estate, Party Foul, and more, plus a throwback timeline of 80s-90s-00s AAPI artists featuring The Jets, Pinay, Jocelyn Enriquez, and MC Jin, in a special mix by Legend Entertainment’s DJ Icy Ice. Singer/songwriter Thuy will be UNFO’s first-ever performer of Vietnamese descent, and Weston Estate are the first-ever South Asian recording artists to take the UNFO mainstage. The show opens with K-pop’s WONHO, making his U.S. solo debut after Monsta X, and closes with special guests 98 Degrees, following the worldwide debut of Party Foul, the Hawaii-based boy band formerly known as Crossing Rain, who opened for the iconic 90s boy band at a Lahaina, Maui benefit concert earlier this year.
Cultural Icon honoree Prabal Gurung has been at the forefront of American fashion, with designs worn by leading ladies including First Lady Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and the Duchess of Cambridge, to name a few. For years, he has used his brand platform to address global needs, serving as a goodwill ambassador and launching an earthquake relief fund for his homeland in Nepal, amongst many other charitable initiatives. Gurung’s literary memoir Walk Like a Girl will be released in spring 2025.
Entertainment legend Hiroyuki Sanada (The Last Samurai, Mortal Kombat, Bullet Train, John Wick 3) has been awarded multiple times over for one of the most celebrated film careers in Hollywood. He will receive the inaugural Global Icon award at the Unforgettable Gala, on the heels of his recent Golden Globe nominations and Emmy wins, and what is sure to kick off another successful award season for the veteran actor.
A very special Community Impact award will be given to “Laker Legends,” as allies who have inspired and advocated for the API community. Three-time NBA champion Byron Scott, who begins his next chapter coaching basketball in Asia, will accept the award recognizing the allyship of former Lakers such as Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, known for his prolific writings in The Hollywood Reporter addressing Asian stereotypes in Hollywood, and Ervin “Magic” Johnson for his support and funding of AAPI small business owners during the pandemic. Scott also served as the last NBA coach of the legendary Kobe Bryant, long revered by the Asian community throughout his lifetime for a legacy of inspiration and excellence.
This year’s Global Groundbreaker award will be presented to Japanese comedian Naomi Watanabe. In addition, the 2024 Unforgettable Gala honorees, as earlier announced, feature a powerful lineup of stars across film, TV, digital media and entertainment, including Joan Chen (Chungsing Wang in Dìdi) – Actor in Film; Ana Sawai (Lady Toda Mariko in Shōgun) – Actor in TV; Izaac Wang (Chris Wang in Dìdi) – Breakout in Film; Hoa Xuande (The Captain in The Sympathizer) – Breakout in TV; Sean Wang (Dìdi) – Director; Rachel Kondo (Shogun) – Writer; Vivian Tu (Your Rich BFF) – Digital Influencer; and Avatar: The Last Airbender Cast (Netflix live-action adaptation) – Vanguard Award.
Promoted as “Unforgettable Together,” this year’s gala brings together today’s artists and legends in entertainment, featuring unprecedented collaborations and never-before-seen performances on stage. “Unforgettable Together” is a concerted effort to unite generations of the greater API community and highlight icons, allies and supporters.
The preeminent API awards gala is a one-of-a-kind celebration, featuring a golden evening of grandeur and glamour on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Beverly Hilton. New partners at UNFO include presenting sponsor Cadillac and after-party sponsor Vizio, as well as Cartier, Fenty Beauty by Rihanna, TikTok and Yaamava’ Resort & Casino. Returning sponsors include Amazon MGM Studios, Amazon Music, ChimeTV, Gold House, Le Mieux and Ten Advertising. Other new UNFO sponsors include Bank of Hope, Din Tai Fung, Dr. Bombay, East West Bank, Icelandic Glacial, South Coast Plaza, Tower28, 99 Ranch Market, and more.
UNFO will once again air nationwide as a live-to-tape awards show special on Wednesday, Dec. 18, on ChimeTV powered by GoldenTV, with repeat airings again on cable, per local listings, and streaming on GoldenTV. More about GoldenTV advertising opportunities is available at www.getgolden.tv.
The Unforgettable Gala was founded in 2002 by Asian-centered media company Character Media, formerly Audrey Magazine, KoreAm Journal, and Kore Asian Media. Marking a new era, UNFO is produced for the first time by GoldenTV and Character Media, as part of the Golden Media family of companies. Interviews are available with GoldenTV founder and CEO Takashi Cheng and/or UNFO co-leads Jessica del Mundo and Tina Li.
About GoldenTV
GoldenTV is the first streaming platform that combines Asian and Pacific Islander stories into one limitless, creator-centric home. It offers everything broadcasted on AAPI cable channel ChimeTV plus exclusive interviews, event coverage and more. GoldenTV delivers Asian Pacific experiences online through its SVOD, OTA and FAST channels, and offline through live events such as the annual Unforgettable Gala. Follow GoldenTV on Instagram @GetGoldenTV.
About Character Media
Character Media has been the premier source of news and events for the Asian American entertainment community for more than 30 years (along with its predecessors Kore Asian Media, KoreAm Journal and Audrey Magazine). Follow Character Media on Instagram @Character.Media.
