JESSICA ALBA BREAKS DOWN IN TEARS AT THE TEEN CHOICE AWARDS WHILE INTRODUCING SON OF ALTON STERLING

 

Jessica Alba made an appearance at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday, where she took part in one of the most powerful moments of the night.

The 35-year-old actress introduced young family members of recent victims of gun violence, including Cameron – the son of Alton Sterling, who was shot dead by police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana – and those wounded in the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, that left 49 dead.

“They’re the brothers, sisters, daughters, and family members of recent victims of gun violence. I’m talking about Aurora, Baton Rouge, Dallas, Minneapolis, Orlando, San Bernardino, Newtown,” Alba said, fighting back tears as she referenced highly-publicized shootings that have taken place in the U.S. “It keeps happening and it has to stop. Many of those impacted by these acts of violence are teens.”

“Tonight we stand together with these teens, united in our call for peace, and an end to this violence,” the mother of two added. “Now, more than ever, we need to stop, feel, and ask, ‘What’s going on?’”

The tribute included singer Ne-Yo singing Marvin Gaye’s classic hit, “What’s Going On”, as the crowd waved their cell phone lights.

After the performance, the group came back onstage and implored the audience to take a picture of them, promoting the hashtag “#StopTheViolence.”

Members of the group Alba introduced onstage also included J.T. Lewis, brother of Jesse Lewis, one of the 26 students killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School; Jolene and Colin Verdehyou, daughter and son of Bennetta Betbadal, who was killed in the San Bernardino shooting; the aunt of 16-year-old Cederrius Hastings, who was killed in a drive-by shooting at a graduation party in Georgia; siblings of Jason Josaphat, who was killed in the Pulse nightclub shooting; Patience Carter, who was wounded in the Pulse nightclub shooting; and Tiara Parker, who was wounded in the Pulse nightclub shooting and the cousin of victim Akyra Murray.

Last month, Danny DeVito made a passionate plea for gun control when ET chatted with him on the set of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, just two days after the Orlando massacre.

“I don’t even want to talk about anything else,” DeVito told ET candidly. “I love doing the show and thank you very much for being interested, but it’s heartbreaking. I can’t get over it.”