Cinematographer and press officer for the Syrian White Helmets, Khaled Khatib, did not fly to the United States to attend the event. He tweeted that though he was able to obtain a US visa, he would not be going due to the "intensity of work," also saying that "our priority is helping our people."

"If we win this award, it will show people across Syria that people around the world support them," Khatib said before the awards. "It will give courage to every volunteer who wakes up every morning to run towards bombs."