She was one of the first women to host a TV show solo, and was a powerful advocate for diversity and inclusion in the early days of television.”įathom Events shared that it will celebrate her life by continuing with its plan to screen the film Betty White: 100 Years Young – a Birthday Celebration in theaters on Jan. The National Comedy Center praised White in a statement for her “comedy gold” and called her a “true master of the art form. Throughout the rest of her career, White used her platform to advocate for many issues affecting the LGBTQ community, including marriage equality and supporting at-risk queer youth.” GLAAD remembered the star with a statement from head of talent Anthony Allen Ramos, who praised her as a “true ‘friend’ to the LGBTQ community.” He added, “Her character Rose on The Golden Girls was instrumental in drawing mainstream attention to LGBTQ issues on television, namely an episode that raised awareness about HIV in 1990. She believed she would be with him again.”īetty White's Final Message: How 'Betty White: A Celebration' Pivoted to Become a Tribute to an Icon I don’t think Betty ever feared passing because she always wanted to be with her most beloved husband Allen Ludden. “I will miss her terribly and so will the animal world that she loved so much. “Even though Betty was about to be 100, I thought she would live forever,” Witjas shared with People magazine in a statement. White, known for memorable performances on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls and Hot in Cleveland, in addition to witty stand-up comedy routines and charming talk show appearances, died early Friday at the age of 99, her agent and close friend Jeff Witjas told The Hollywood Reporter.
Hollywood, along with the world at large, is mourning the loss of Betty White, the legendary performer and comedian who delighted generations of fans.