As one of his final official engagements, US President Barack Obama has honoured 21 groundbreaking artists, athletes, musicians and innovators with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The list of recipients included Tom Hanks, Diana Ross, Robert De Niro and Michael Jordan - but it was funny-woman Ellen DeGeneres whose emotional moment with Obama captivated the room.
With the medal awarded for extraordinary contributions to world peace, culture or other national interests, DeGeneres was recognised for her decades of LGBT activism and contributions to pop culture.
Obama praised DeGeneres for the immense courage it took to come out as gay in the spotlight almost 20 years ago.
"It's easy to forget now when we've come so far, where now marriage is equal under law, just how much courage was required for Ellen to come out on the most public of stages almost 20 years ago," Obama said.
"Just how important it was. Not just for the LGBT community, but for all of us. To see somebody so full of kindness and light, somebody we liked so much, somebody who could be our neighbour or our colleague or our sister; challenge our own assumptions. Remind us that we have more in common than we realise. Push our country in the direction of justice.
"What an incredible burden that was to bear. To risk your career like that; people don't do that very often. And then to have the hopes of millions on your shoulders."
Having forged a close friendship with DeGeneres, Obama continued by referencing the comedian's jokes to lighten the mood.
"But it's like Ellen says, 'we all want a tortilla chip that can support the weight of guacamole'. Which really makes no sense to me. But I thought I would break the mood, because I was getting choked up.
"But she did pay a price. We didn't remember this. I hadn't remembered it. She did, for a pretty long stretch of time - even in Hollywood.
"And yet, today, every day, in every way, Ellen counters what often divides us, with the countless things that bind us together, inspires us to be better, one joke, one dance at a time," before remarking that the comedian had a way at making people laugh at something, not someone, "except when I danced on her show."
A photo posted by Ellen (@theellenshow) on Nov 22, 2016 at 9:49am PST
While most could spot DeGeneres from a mile away, this did not exempt her from Secret Service protocol. The star earlier in the day posted a sombre photo outside the White House, sharing that security denied her access after she forgot her ID. She later posted another photo with wife, Portia de Rossi, and her new honour, adding , 'I hope it serves as an ID. I have no idea how I'm getting home.'
A photo posted by Ellen (@theellenshow) on Nov 22, 2016 at 2:16pm PST
The diverse group of medal recipients also celebrated with a mannequin challenge for DeGeneres' social media channels.
A White House aide referenced DeGeneres beloved role in Finding Nemo during the ceremony.
"In every role, she reminds us to be kind to one another and to treat people as each of us wants to be treated. At a pivotal moment, her courage and candour helped change the hearts and minds of millions of Americans, accelerating our nation's constant drive towards equality and acceptance for all," the aide said.
"Again and again, Ellen DeGeneres has shown us that a single individual can make the world a more fun, more open, more loving place — so long as we just keep swimming."
