FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Sunshine Sachs
webby@sunshinesachs.com
212-691-2800
ACTRESS AND COMEDIAN JENNY SLATE TO HOST 23RD ANNUAL WEBBY AWARDS
Star-Studded Celebration of the Best of the Internet Set for Monday, May 13
NEW YORK, March 26, 2019 – The Webby Awards today announced that actress and comedian Jenny Slate will host The 23rd Annual Webby Awards on Monday, May 13, 2019 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.
As host, Slate will kick off the show and keep the Winners in line, ensuring they each follow the Webby 5-Word Acceptance Speech rule: a hallmark of the ceremony. Notable 5-Word Speeches from previous Webby Awards ceremonies include “It’s pronounced ‘JIF’ not ‘GIF’” (GIF inventor Steve Wilhite), “Nude selfies ‘til I die” (Kim Kardashian West), and “Net neutrality, you greedy d**kheads” (Stranger Things’ David Harbour).
“The Internet gives us infinite ways to make our everyday lives better,” said Jenny Slate. “Even though I am “very bad at computers”, I am good at having fun, and I’m excited to celebrate those who dare to make the best of the Internet at a time when we need to foster connection, kindness and creativity.”
A first-time host to The Webby Awards, Slate is a critically acclaimed actress, stand-up comedian, author, and creator known for her roles on shows like Big Mouth, Parks & Recreation, Bob’s Burgers, and Kroll Show, as well as the films such as Zootopia, Obvious Child, Venom, The Sunlit Night, and The Secret Life of Pets 2, opening in June 2019, where she reprises her voice role of Gidget the Pomeranian. Slate is also co-creator of the children’s book and short film series Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, which has amassed over 30 million views online.
“The Internet has been obsessed with Jenny Slate since ‘Marcel the Shell with Shoes On’ first made us LOL,” said Claire Graves, Executive Director of The Webby Awards. “She is unbelievably funny and we’re ecstatic to have her host this year’s show.”
The nominees for The 23rd Annual Webby Awards will be announced on Tuesday, April 2, 2019, when voting for the Webby People’s Voice Awards opens at www.webbyawards.com.