Erykah Badu celebrated as fashion icon at CFDA Awards after years of pushing boundaries

NEW YORK (AP) — Erykah Badu was bestowed the fashion icon award by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, playfully saying it was an honor she’d been hoping to get most of her life.

Wearing a headdress of jewels and a Thom Browne jacket, Badu accepted the award Monday night in Manhattan, saying she’s been trying to win the icon award since she was 6 years old. Badu described dressing up as a sport, therapy — and her husband.

André 3000 brought out an orange caution cone to the stage as he introduced Badu, who is the mother of his son.

“The world is a private joke between me and my things,” she said. André 3000 took the cone as he walked off with Badu.

The Grammy Award winner has become one of the great fashion disruptors of red carpets over the years, shaking up black tie conformity with her own Afrocentric style of tall hats and headwraps, oversized jewelry and talismans and layers of patchwork fabric adorned with accents that move and make music.

The CFDA Fashion Awards were held at the American Museum of Natural History at a ceremony that attracted celebrities like Katie Holmes and Kylie Jenner, designers and fashion industry giants to honor the best in design. Star of the movie “Wicked” Cynthia Erivo hosted the evening in a hooded gown from Gap designed by Zac Posen.

The final award of the night went to Rachel Scott of Diotima for womenswear designer of the year. Scott was overwhelmed with emotion while accepting her award and thanked her mother and the women who crochet her designs in Jamaica, where she is from.

“I’ve spent so much of my career on design teams so I’m really unaccustomed to this recognition,” she said.

Scott, known for her exquisite knit designs, was awarded the emerging designer of the year award in 2023.

Pop star Troye Sivan presented the menswear designer of the year award to Willy Chavarria, making this his second menswear win. Chavarria said it’s a strange time for him working on his autumn/winter 2025 collection with an upcoming election so close.

“I do know so many people in this room are very concerned about their rights,” he said. “Diversity in humanity makes us much stronger.”

This year, Chavarria was up against Mike Amiri of Amiri, Emily Adams Bode Aujla of Bode, Todd Snyder and Browne for the award.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand opened the night by encouraging the influencers, fashion designers and celebrities dining in the room to tap into their collective influence to motivate their followers to vote: “If we wake up on Wednesday and we don't recognize this country, and we didn’t leave it out on the field, we have no one to blame but ourselves.”

Browne, CFDA chair, also drove home the message of voting: “Fashion like democracy is about choice.”

Actor Molly Gordon and designer Brandon Maxwell presented the award for emerging designer of the year award to Russian-born designer Henry Zankov, known for his colorful knitwear. (Maxwell is a previous emerging designer winner.) Other contenders for the honor were Presley Oldham of Presley Oldham, Tanner Richie and Fletcher Kasell of Tanner Fletcher, Jackson Wiederhoeft of Wiederhoeft and Connor McKnight.

Celebrity duo Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie teamed up to present the award for accessory designer of the year to Raul Lopez of Luar. Lopez said the win is for everyone like him, who grew up the child of immigrants.

“I’m just a vessel in this industry to guide the kids that come after me to see they can do it to,” he said.

Lopez beat out nominees Ana Khouri, Stuart Vevers for Coach, Catherine Holstein for Khaite and Tory Burch.

Another icon shaking up the fashion industry, Daniel Roseberry of Schiaparelli, was honored as the international designer of the year. Roseberry’s designs have been dominating red carpets with Schiaparelli’s unconventional couture and surrealist pop of gold embellishments. Actor Nicole Kidman stunned at the Venice Film Festival when she walked the carpet in one of Schiaparelli’s couture corseted looks with beaded fringe and a deconstructed neckline.

Roseberry is the first American to lead a French couture company.

Other honors of the night included the Amazon Innovation Award which was awarded to Vevers, famed photographer Annie Leibovitz received the media award and the positive change award went to Michael Kors. Designer Stephen Burrows was honored at the event with the lifetime achievement award. Burrows was one of the five U.S. designers who competed in the 1973 “Battle of Versailles” fashion show.

With her latest award, Badu now joins the ranks of celebrities like Serena Williams, Kim Kardashian and Zendaya who previously took home the “fashion icon” title.

Teyana Taylor attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Rebecca Hall attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Taylor Hill attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Nicky Hilton Rothschild attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Sunisa Lee attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Lucky Blue Smith, left, and Nara Smith attend the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Troye Sivan attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Marc Jacobs attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Kylie Jenner attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Kylie Jenner attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Kylie Jenner attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Laufey attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Lucy Liu attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Carter Gregory, left, and Kylie Jenner attend the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Da'Vine Joy Randolph attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Katie Holmes attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Paris Hilton attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Tyla attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Valentina Ferrer, left, and J Balvin attend the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Tyla attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Wes Gordon, left, and Katie Holmes attend the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

GloRilla attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Teyana Taylor attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Erykah Badu attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Erykah Badu attends the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”

New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.

"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)