Rihanna, Sabrina Carpenter, Jack Black Provide Best Moments at 2025 Kids’ Choice Awards

Rihanna accepted an Icon Award by video and delivered an inspiring message for her young fans. “I just want to take this moment to remind all of you that wherever you are right now is significant and crucial to where you are about to go. Own your space in this world and know that you are chosen for greatness.”

benny blanco made a similar point when he accepted (in-person) favorite viral song for “Bluest Flame,” a collab with his girlfriend, Selena Gomez (who wasn’t present). Wearing an Aerosmith T-shirt and his signature scruffy look, he said, “I’ve always wanted one of these since I was a kid and I just want to tell you guys ‘Dream anything you can, as big as you can because … you guys can do anything you want.”

Sabrina Carpenter picked up three awards — favorite album for Short n’ Sweet, favorite female breakout artist and favorite song for “Taste.”

“I’ve always wanted one of these ever since I was a little girl,” she said. “This is so special to me. I just can’t thank each and every one of you enough for voting. I will continue to make these clean versions of these songs for you, and I’m so grateful that you’re listening.”

Auli’i Caravalho accepted the award for favorite female animated voice from a movie for playing Moana in Moana 2, capping her speech by saying the movie showed “how important it is to welcome people from distant shores.” In the past it would have seemed a sweet, innocent comment, but in these highly-charged times it seemed to be touching on a hot-button issue.

It came at the end of his acceptance speech for the King of Comedy Award, where he was inevitably slimed, yet he said, “I didn’t see that coming. You got me.” A trouper, he stayed in position for a second sliming after they presented his second award of the night, favorite movie actor for playing Steve in A Minecraft Movie.

The latter award was presented by Black’s Nacho Libre co-stars Ana de la Reguera and Héctor Jiménez, who, Black noted, came all the way from Mexico to present the award. “Viva Mexico,” Black said, another comment that would have seemed innocuous not so long ago but suddenly seemed highly topical.

There were two musical performances: “cliché,” by mgk, from his upcoming seventh studio album, Lost Americana, and “Gnarly,” by KATSEYE, from their upcoming second EP, Beautiful Chaos. Both performances culminated in slimings. mgk was introduced by his daughter, Casie Baker. KATSEYE was introduced by Ice Spice.