Drake Thanks Frontline Workers During 'Stronger Together' Special
Drake is showing his gratitude.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the “Toosie Slide” rapper made a special appearance during Canada’s “Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble” special on Sunday. Checking in from his mansion in Toronto, Drake closed out the benefit with a heartfelt message to the everyday heroes on the front lines of the crisis, calling them the “glue holding us all together.”
“I want to start off by saying hats off to all the artists who performed, showcased their talents tonight for a good cause,” he said. “I want to send all my love, all my gratitude, all my support out to the frontline workers, the first responders, the healthcare workers.”
He went on to reveal that he had to go to the hospital recently due to a foot injury and witnessed their heroism firsthand. “I actually ended up in the hospital the other day due to a foot injury and just to see the moral, the smiles, the high spirits on everyone’s face that I got to encounter in that situation, despite everything going on, it’s just incredible to see people who have to leave their families every day and go to work amidst this crisis, as dangerous as it is.”
.@Drake says frontline workers are the glue holding us all together. #StrongerTogether #TousEnsemble pic.twitter.com/a0CHknYOFo
— etalk (@etalkCTV) April 27, 2020
Drake also had a message for those isolated at home who may be dealing with mental health issues. “I want to urge everybody that’s in their own space to find the silver lining in the times that we’re living through right now,” he said. “If you have a craft that can be worked on from home, it’s an amazing thing to continue working, keep your mind stimulated, get better at that thing that you’re passionate about.”
He encouraged them to stay active and “nurture your personal relationships.” “Now is a time of self-reflection,” he added. “It’s a time that I don’t think any of us thought we would ever get, but I urge you to find the silver lining.”
Despite trying times, he looks forward to a brighter day. “I hope we all emerge better people, more unified people, and I hope we are able to show each other the same amount of love that we’re showing now,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the day when we will be reunited, whether it be face-to-face or just connected through something else that we do. I’ll be there with a smile on my face and until then, please keep all these people that are truly out here working for you in mind.”
The 90-minute program, which supported food banks across Canada during the coronavirus pandemic, also featured an appearance from Justin Bieber, who performed a cover of Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me” alongside Michael Bublé, Avril Lavigne, Fefe Dobson, and other Canadian singers.