On Saturday evening, Charlize Theron graced the stage as the host of the fifth annual Block Party for her Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP), an event brimming with authenticity as she addressed the pressing issues of our time, quipping, "In 2025, it feels as though the world is ablaze." Amidst the Universal Studios backlot, she kicked off the fundraising gala, which supports CTAOP's mission to safeguard the health and well-being of youth in her native South Africa, with a dry wit: "Perhaps we're the sole souls who weren't graced with an invite to Bezos's wedding. But hey, no hard feelings—they're not our crowd, and we're pretty awesome as it is."
Theron then expressed heartfelt gratitude to the attendees for their dedication, amidst a world that seemed to be crumbling around them. "Thank you for making time for this, especially when the world feels like it's burning—because it literally is. Here in Los Angeles, across America, and worldwide, we're hurtling backwards at breakneck speed. Immigration policies are tearing families apart, not criminals; women's rights are dwindling daily; queer and trans lives are increasingly marginalized; and gender-based violence escalates. This isn't merely policy; it's deeply personal." The crowd erupted in applause as she added, "Yeah, screw them."
As someone who immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager, pursuing a Hollywood career, Theron knows firsthand the challenges of navigating visas. Deported at 19 for overstaying her work visa, she was eventually permitted to return and became a U.S. citizen in 2007. She passionately denounced "foreign aid cuts that have halted HIV and AIDS programs in my homeland of South Africa. All this is not merely harmful; it's perilous. Lives are lost—many already have, alarmingly so. It's excruciating to witness this avoidable suffering."
Yet, Theron highlighted a glimmer of hope: "We also witness, undeniably, the resistance. There is hope. There is strength in our unity, organization, protest, voting, compassion, and refusal to accept this as the new normal. This spirit of defiance, justice, and solidarity fuels CTAOP's work. While our focus lies with Southern African youth, tonight's message resonates universally: all lives matter. Everyone deserves health, safety, and visibility."
The event also welcomed Theron's "The Old Guard 2" co-stars KiKi Layne, Henry Golding, and Marwan Kenzari. Theron and Layne participated in a live edition of "Hot Ones" with host Sean Evans, sponsored by the highest bidder post-auction. Reneé Rapp serenaded the audience with "Tummy Hurts" from 2023 and her new single "Mad."
Founded in 2007, CTAOP has reached over 4.5 million youth and donated nearly $15 million to South African organizations over the past 18 years.
