NYU HONOREE PHARRELL TOUTS GENDER EQUALITY

Pharrell Williams spoke about the importance of gender equality after receiving an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from NYU. He told graduates they are the first generation “that understands that we need to lift up our women."

In his speech Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, Pharrell said, "Imagine the possibilities when we remove imbalance from the ether, because it's imbalanced right now.

"Your generation is unraveling deeply entrenched laws, principles and misguided values that have held women back for far too long, and therefore have held us all back—the human race. The world that you're living [in] will be a lot better for it.

"This is the first generation that navigates the world with the security and the confidence to treat women as equal. You guys and gals are the first ever.”