Jennifer Coolidge is constantly proving what an icon she is, with the latest evidence coming in the form of a college commencement speech where she thanked all the “excited gay students” as well as the “less excited hetero students.”
The White Lotus star was delivering the commencement address at her alma mater, Emerson College in Boston Massachusetts, on Sunday (11 May).
Footage from the event at Boston’s Agganis Arena (that’s right, the Coolidge is performing to packed out arenas!) shows the icon saying, “I’m excited that I’m speaking with some very excited gay students…” to rapturous cheers.
She then added “some less excited hetero students,” before cheekily adding, “and hopefully some very eligible widowers.”
In an 18-minute address full of Jen’s characteristic humour and charm, the Legally Blonde star delivered some motivational stories, encouraging the fresh batch of graduates to “just friggin’ go for it!”
Describing herself as “a strange kid” she advised parents and caregivers not to worry about their kids succeeding.
Jennifer Coolidge speaks at Emerson College’s graduation ceremony:
“I’m excited that I’m speaking with some very excited gay students… [and] some less exciting hetero students.” pic.twitter.com/NJauADPqlU
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) May 12, 2025
One story she recounted was completing an obstacle course as a child where she thought she’d beaten the fastest girl in school.
“I was so elated that I had won, and to me it meant that I was going to get the blue ribbon. And then the teacher came up to me and told me that I didn’t win the blue ribbon because I was disqualified. And it turns out, I had skipped all of the obstacles.”
Jen talked about the shame she carried over “the debacle” and the teasing she endured because of it, which led to worries about always being seen “as a joke.”
But from that she decided to have “insane expectations and believe they’re going to come true,” earning a round of applause.
As an example of this she recalled seeing a magazine of her mother’s at home which had Grace Kelly, ‘the Queen of Monaco’ on the cover. This led Jen to realise “I wanted to be Queen of Monaco” and she “hypnotised myself into an impossible life.”
Bringing it back to a serious point about overcoming challenges she explained: “I can tell you it doesn’t really matter what anyone thinks or says. When it comes to the obstacle course of your life, you have to find your own path.”
She also encouraged people to “feel things profoundly” and to believe in themselves.
Dear god, Jen. We absolutely adore you!
The White Lotus star recently described the gay community as “a superior group of people.”
And at the 2023 GLAAD Awards, the actress have another impactful speech saying, “I have so much respect for the LGBTQ+ community, and just want you all to know that I love you and I thank you for always being there for me, and that’s why I’m here because I want to give back.”
Watch the full commencement speech below.
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