Simone Ledward has honoured her late husband Chadwick Boseman in an emotional speech.
The actor sadly passed away at the age of 43 on August 28, following a private battle with colon cancer.
Simone accepted the Tribute Award on behalf of her husband at Monday night’s 30th Annual Gotham Awards, following Chadwick’s final role in Netflix’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Speaking out publicly for the first time since her husband’s death, the 30-year-old described the Black Panther star as “the most honest person I’ve ever met”.
Chadwick Boseman’s widow cries as she accepts a Gotham award in his honor. “Chad, thank you,” says Simone Boseman. “Keep shining your light on us.” pic.twitter.com/jQidx0Yp6c
— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) January 12, 2021
“He didn’t just stop at speaking the truth, he actively searched for it in himself, in those around him and in the moment.
“The truth can be a very easy thing for the self to avoid but if one does not live in truth, then it’s impossible to live in line with a divine purpose for your life.
“And so it became how he lived his life, day in, day out, imperfect but determined. In doing so he was able to give himself over fully to every moment, to be totally present in his own life and in the lives of the people he became.
“He was blessed to live many lives within his concentrated one,” she said.
Simone added it was an “honour” to receive the award on behalf of her husband, saying it was an “acknowledgement of not only his profound work but of his impact on this industry and this world”.
Fighting back tears, the actor’s widow said: “Chad, thank you. I love you. I am so proud of you. Keep shining your light on us.”
Chadwick and Simone reportedly got engaged in 2019, and secretly married some time before the actor’s death, as revealed by Chadwick’s family in a statement announcing his passing.
