Former Vice President Kamala Harris brought unfiltered honesty and sharp wit to Hollywood’s fourth annual A Day of Unreasonable Conversation summit at The Getty Center in Los Angeles, leaving attendees inspired, laughing and talking.
The star-studded one-day event, co-chaired by Kerry Washington, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Greg Berlanti, and Pilar Savone, brought together leaders across politics, media, sports, and academia to explore how storytelling can reshape culture and politics.
But it was Harris’s candid, emotional remarks during her closing conversation with WNBA star Napheesa Collier that stole the show — offering a rare glimpse into her post-election reflections, her views on truth-telling, and her unapologetic attitude toward chaos in today’s political climate.
Here are four standout quotes from the Vice President’s viral appearance:
1. “These motherf***ers are crazy.”
The crowd erupted in laughter and applause when Harris, speaking about the overwhelming political and cultural confusion in America, declared, “There is so much about this moment that is trying to make people feel like they’ve lost their minds, when in fact, these motherf***ers are crazy.”
Her blunt assessment struck a chord with Hollywood’s creators, who she urged to channel their emotions into meaningful stories.
“You’re not passive observers — you’re living history,” she said. “Give those emotions, gift that experience to the people you are writing about and writing for.”
Harris later joked that her unscripted honesty was part of what she calls “The Freedom Tour.”
2. “I had never felt that level of pain and grief — except when my mother died.”
Reflecting on her 2024 election loss to Donald Trump, Harris revealed the deep personal toll of that night, saying:
“I couldn’t articulate anything else — I kept saying over and over again, ‘My God, my God.’ I had never felt that level of pain and grief except that when my mother died, and it was grieving for the country. I knew what was going to happen.”
Her words drew a solemn stillness from the crowd, many of whom later praised her vulnerability in comparing political defeat to profound personal loss.
3. “There will always be risk associated with speaking truth.”
Addressing the issue of growing censorship in entertainment and media, particularly following the temporary suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s show, Harris urged creators to resist fear-driven silence.
“I don’t envy some of the folks who are here, who are being subtly — or not so subtly — sent signals that now is not the time to speak truth with a certain level of candor,” she said. “Every person has to make that decision for themselves. But there will always be risk associated with speaking truth.”
4. “We are living history right now.”
In perhaps her most empowering message of the night, Harris reminded Hollywood’s storytellers that their work has the power to define a generation.
“We are living history right now, and you all as storytellers are living this,” she said. “You’re not passive observers — you’re shaping how this moment will be remembered.”
A Summit That Blended Politics and Pop Culture
The summit — produced by Propper Daley’s BPI in partnership with Invisible Hand — featured panels on AI, climate change, toxic masculinity, and social responsibility in media.
Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt led a session on the ethical use of artificial intelligence, while Kerry Washington opened the day with a passionate speech on the power of storytelling beyond binary narratives.
But it was Harris’s no-holds-barred candor that defined the event — a reminder that even amid political fatigue and social division, authenticity still resonates.
As she exited the stage to a standing ovation, it was clear that Harris’s mix of humor, heart, and hard truth had done what the summit set out to achieve: spark conversation.
