Academy Award-nominated actress Sharon Stone delivered a powerful speech about her health journey and the challenges she faced. She delivered the speech at The Hollywood Reporter’s Raising Our Voices luncheon gala. Stone opened the second annual event at Audrey Irmas Pavilion and GenSpace in Los Angeles. In this event, the industry leaders discussed the future of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in Hollywood. In 2001, Stone encountered a severe medical crisis when an artery tore. It caused massive bleeding into her face, brain, head, and spine. Doctors gave her a 1% chance of survival, and she spent nine hours in surgery. This powerful speech was all about Sharon Stone on inclusion and diversity and the struggles she faced.
After leaving the ICU, Stone suffered from directional hearing loss in her right ear, significant weight loss, stuttering, seeing colours, sudden pain, and memory loss. Despite overcoming these immense health struggles, Sharon Stone didn’t expect the added challenge of finding work again. The industry she had dedicated so many years to had, unfortunately, marginalised her.
Sharon Stone on inclusion and diversity: Diversity promises vs reality
“I recovered for seven years, and I haven’t had jobs since,” Stone said. “When it first happened, I didn’t want to tell anybody. That is because you know if something goes wrong with you, you’re out. Something went wrong with me — I have been out for 20 years. I haven’t had jobs. I was a very big movie star at one point in my life.“
Stone’s struggle to get back to work is a sobering reminder of the stigma and exclusion that follow health setbacks. Society loves to put people into neat little boxes. It gets worse as we get older or face serious health problems. There is an intense pressure telling us that our value drops with age or illness. It’s like they think our worth fades away with each grey hair or medical setback, fitting us into a smaller and less important box.
Many workplaces claim to value diversity, but when it comes to hiring or supporting someone with a disability or serious health issue, these promises often fade away. Disabled people frequently express a strong desire to work but face many obstacles, both in getting jobs and in staying employed. Despite the talk about inclusion, real action and support for these individuals are often missing.
Ensuring every voice is valued
Stone added, “If you are diverse, you must demand a position in this business. We are here to raise our voices to demand for you. We demand that you be seen, and we demand that you be heard.“
People with disabilities often worry about being teased or harassed at work. They fear their relationships with coworkers will change if others know about their condition. Many also fear that their managers might think they’re not as capable, which can hurt their chances of moving up in their careers. Because of these fears, many people feel forced to hide their conditions to avoid being excluded.
A SheSays study found that 83% of women and non-binary employees with invisible health challenges or disabilities choose not to disclose them at work. 62% hide their pain to avoid prejudice, and 52% think revealing their condition might limit promotions and other opportunities.
No injured person should ever be forced to sacrifice their career. While workplaces and society as a whole need to become more inclusive, it’s equally important for individuals to feel empowered to speak up about their needs and challenges. Ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and valued is a necessary step toward true diversity and inclusion.
Sharon Stone on inclusion and diversity: The final thoughts
Sharon Stone’s speech is a wake-up call for actual change, true inclusion, and unbiased visibility. Despite claims of valuing diversity, many workplaces fail to support individuals with disabilities or severe health issues. Her demand that diverse voices be seen and heard reminds us that real change requires not just words but meaningful support and opportunities for all.
In Sharon Stone’s words, diversity means more than one thing. It can be an injury, the colour of your skin, or standing up for yourself.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the writer’s insights, supported by data and resources available both online and offline, as applicable. Changeincontent.com is committed to promoting inclusivity across all forms of content, which we define broadly to include media, policies, law, and history—encompassing all elements that influence the lives of women and gender-queer individuals. Our goal is to promote understanding and advocate for comprehensive inclusivity.
