The Paley Center for Media celebrated media giants and prolific changemakers last night at the 2025 Paley Honors Spring Gala.
The American cultural institution hosted hundreds of guests at Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City for the beloved annual bash that fêted Joe Tsai, Crystal McCrary, the 50th Anniversary of “Good Morning America,” and television icon Lynda Carter.
Honorees were saluted during a dazzling presentation that both inspired and moved the audience to soaring heights. With speeches filled with hope and reflective nostalgia, it was hard not to see the magic sparkling throughout the grand Big Apple ballroom.
The gala opened with remarks from Maureen J. Reidy, President and CEO of The Paley Center, and Frank A. Bennack, Jr., Chairman of the Board. They highlighted the honorees and the Paley Center’s ongoing work and impact across both coasts.
(Photo Courtesy of The Paley Center for Media)
The Paley Center’s highest honor, The Paley Honors Award, then took the spotlight in front of the thrilled crowd. Business icon, innovator, and visionary Tsai came to the stage to rousing applause along with other honorees media and sports trailblazer McCrary; and the team from “Good Morning America.” “ABC World News Tonight” anchor David Muir introduced the evening’s first honorees—Robin Roberts, Michael Strahan, George Stephanopoulos, and Executive Producer Simone Swink who moved the audience to happy tears with a showing of historical memories throughout their milestone anniversary of the show.
McCrary was introduced by Susan Fales-Hill, acclaimed author and current executive producer/writer of” And Just Like That….” Onstage, the documentarian and Black woman content creator emphasized the importance of portraying “non-stereotypical, multidimensional, respectful, and thoughtful depictions of our lives.” She concluded her speech powerfully: “May we never be forgotten and, most importantly, never erased.”
(Photo Courtesy of The Paley Center for Media)
Director Patty Jenkins then presented The Paley Honors Award to the legendary Carter as they both, with jo,y commemorated the 50th anniversary of “Wonder Woman.”
The actress emphasized the importance of giving back, noting that if she could offer anything to others, it would be “the gift of curiosity, the gift of imagination, the gift of giving.”
(Photo Courtesy of The Paley Center for Media)
Closing out the evening, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver presented the final award to Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty owner Joe Tsai. Taking the stage, Tsai joked about following Lynda Carter and quipped about auctioning off courtside seats at Barclays Center. He thanked his mother and wife for their support, saying he wouldn’t be where he is today without them, as well as the many people in the room who helped him along the way.
Notable guests in attendance included: Debra O’Connell, Almin Karamehmedovic, Lara Spencer, Sam Champion, Will Reeve, Rebecca Jarvis, Gio Benitez, Janai Norman, Whit Johnson, David Ushery, David Costabile, Jamie Hector, Joan Lunden, and more.
The evening also included videos highlighting the Paley Center’s work, as well as live appeals to support The Paley Museum.
The Paley Center for Media is the world’s leading nonprofit cultural institution dedicated to preserving our media history and exploring media’s powerful shaping influence on culture and society. The proceeds from The Paley Honors support the organization’s educational programs and preservation initiatives with the renowned Paley Archive.
