Harry and Meghan Markle served as co-chairs for the event, which aims to encourage people to get vaccinated, according to a press release from Global Citizen obtained by Insider.
Selena Gomez hosted VAX LIVE, and performers like H.E.R., Jennifer Lopez, and the Foo Fighters, made appearances. President Joe Biden also gave a speech at the taping of the concert.
The concert will be broadcast in the US on ABC, CBS, FOX, and iHeartMedia on Saturday, but it was pre-recorded the Sunday prior. Vaccinated healthcare and essential workers attended the taping, according to a press release from Global Citizen.
"Hi, everybody," Harry greeted the audience, which made the crowd cheer even louder. He then went on to thank frontline workers.
"We are at a defining moment in the global fight against COVID-19," Harry said. "Tonight is a celebration of each of you here, the vaccinated frontline workers in the audience and the millions of frontline heroes around the world."
"You spent the last year battling courageously and selflessly to protect us all. You served and sacrificed, put yourselves in harm's way and with bravery knowing the costs. We owe you an incredible depth of gratitude, thank you," he said.
Advertisement
The duke also promoted universal access to the vaccine in his speech.
"But we're also coming together because this pandemic cannot end unless we act collectively with an unprecedented commitment to our shared humanity," Harry told the crowd. "The vaccine must be distributed to everyone everywhere. We cannot rest or truly recover until there is fair distribution to every corner of the world."
"The mission in front of us is one we cannot afford to fail out and that's what tonight is about. The virus does not respect borders and access to the vaccine cannot be determined by geography. It must be accepted as a basic right for all and that is our starting point," he went on to say.
"None of us should be comfortable thinking that we could be fine when so many others are suffering. In reality, and especially with this pandemic, when any suffer, we all suffer," the duke said. "We must look beyond ourselves with empathy and compassion for those we know, and those we don't. We need to lift up all of humanity and make sure that no person or community is left behind."
"What we do in this moment will stand in history and tonight, we stand in solidarity with the millions of families across India who are battling a devastating second wave," he said, speaking to the surge of COVID-19 cases and deaths in India.
Advertisement
While Markle didn't appear at the taping, she also promoted COVID-19 vaccines in a shared statement with Harry, which was shared in a press release from Global Citizen.
NewsletterSIMPLY PUT - where we join the dots to inform and inspire you. Sign up for a weekly brief collating many news items into one untangled thought delivered straight to your mailbox.