A Surprise Marching Band (Dressed in Marni) Took Over at GQ’s Annual Creativity Awards

It was extra windy at the WSA building last night, where GQ was hosting its second annual Creativity Awards. But it did make for epic photo ops at arrivals; as Hunter Schafer stepped onto the red carpet, her long hair billowed in the wind like a scene straight out of a movie. Schafer, along with Marni creative director Francesco Risso, Danny McBride, Lewis Hamilton, Asake, Lauren Halsey, Atticus Ross, and Trent Reznor, were the honorees of the night.

As the night’s 140 guests sat for a dinner curated by chef Jake Brodsky of Palm Heights, JB Smoove (the night’s emcee) took the stage, introduced by GQ’s global editorial director Well Welch. Smoove, whose show Curb Your Enthusiasm ended this past Sunday, had all of the guests laughing as he reminisced about his six seasons with the Curb cast as the character Leon Black.

The ceremony started with a bang as Michaela Coel introduced the night s first award winner, her co-star in the movie Mother Mary. Coel then shared with the audience her glamorous meet-cute with Schafer—they met, for the first time, at the Met Gala, when both attendees were quite tipsy and immediately hit it off. She continued to describe working with Schafer as “Truly euphoric. She is a woman who shouts for those who can only whisper, she is a woman who advocates for the world.”

Schafer had a mutual appreciation for her co-star as she accepted the award, “It’s vital to have people to look up to,” she gushed about Coel and many of the other creatives in the room “I am grateful to all of the creatives in the room who opened doors we couldn’t even see.”

Even in a room filled with megawatt names like George Lucas and Erykah Badu, everyone seemed to have someone there they looked up to—no one was immune to feeling starstruck. Case in point: Adam Devine caught up with Danny McBride, who he would later describe as his comedy hero, when presenting him with his award.

Then, Erykah Badu, dressed in an eye-catching Marni look (hat, included!) took to the stage to introduce her dear friend Francesco Risso. The two go way back—Risso dressed Badu when she was his date to the Met Gala in 2022 and last fall, the pair collaborated on a capsule collection for Marni.

To further celebrate Risso’s Creativity Award honor, Badu kicked off a surprise marching band (dressed entirely in Marni, of course) performance. Snaking through the dinner tables, the act was a sight to behold, with Badu blowing the whistle—the conductor as they played an original composition by Dev Hynes (who was also in attendance). Willy Chavvaria was in awe by the end “That was incredible!” he exclaimed

Running into each other following their acceptance speeches, Schafer (in a hand-painted Marni dress) and Risso hugged and shared a sigh of relief after believing their remarks. “I’m still not used to public speaking!” Schafer told Risso, who admitted to being equally jittery before taking the mic. Now, they could wind down and enjoy the night.

Soon after, they and Badu, Trent Reznor, and Atticus Ross piled into the elevator to travel a few floors up, where the after-party was just beginning with DJ Spinna. Those who know, know, GQ’s afters are not ones you want to miss.