Charlize Theron spoke candidly about global political and humanitarian issues during her fifth annual Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) Block Party, held Saturday on the Universal Studios backlot. The event raises funds to support health and safety initiatives for youth in Southern Africa, and this year, Theron didn’t shy away from addressing what she sees as major global setbacks.
Kicking off the evening, Theron delivered a passionate speech in which she described the current state of the world as regressive, stating, “Here in Los Angeles, in the U.S., and across the globe, we’re moving backwards fast.” She criticized restrictive immigration policies, arguing they “have destroyed the lives of families, not criminals,” and pointed to the erosion of women’s rights, the marginalization of queer and trans individuals, and the rise in gender-based violence.
Theron, who immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager and was briefly deported at age 19 for overstaying a work visa, later became a U.S. citizen in 2007. Drawing from her personal experience, she emphasized that these policies are not abstract — “this isn’t just policy, it’s personal,” she told attendees.
She also highlighted the devastating impact of foreign aid cuts on HIV and AIDS programs in South Africa, stating these reductions have brought life-saving efforts “to an absolute standstill.” Despite the challenges, Theron urged guests to find hope and power in activism, resistance, and solidarity.
The event featured appearances by 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, while singer Reneé Rapp performed two songs.
Since its founding in 2007, CTAOP has supported over 4.5 million youth and distributed nearly $15 million in grants across South Africa.
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