Didn’t sit down to watch it? Here’s your conversational cheat sheet for the day.
And we’re off. The Golden Globes have been, gone, and marked the beginning of what is shaping up to be yet another politically charged awards season.
But what actually went down at the 2018 ceremony, you ask? Don’t worry. If you missed it, fell asleep or just didn’t quite understand what was going on, here are nine big talking points to get you through office chat for the next couple of days.
1. Pretty much everyone wore black
As part of Time’s Up, an initiative that’s largely being hailed as the follow up to the huge #MeToo movement, celebrities opted to wear black on the red carpet in acknowledgement and solidarity of those who have suffered sexual harassment – not just in Hollywood, but – everywhere. You’d be hard pressed to spot anyone dressed in anything but the colour of the night as the calls of the women behind Times Up were met by an incredible turn out.
There were also lots of Time’s Up pins being worn, as here demonstrated by Justin Timberlake…
As for how far the effects of this act of protest will ripple beyond the realms of a Hollywood awards ceremony, we’re unsure. But the first step was a significant one and drew a lot of attention to an incredibly important cause.
WATCH: Who didn’t wear black at the Golden Globes?
2. Some women brought activists as dates to the awards
Some actresses extended their messages of political protest beyond their gown choice by walking the red carpet with influential figures in arm. This year, eight actresses opted to bring various activists as their dates to further highlight the Time’s Up cause.
Michelle Williams was joined by Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement and senior director of the nonprofit organisation Girls for Gender Equality. Big Little Lies actress Laura Dern arrived with Monica Ramirez who co-founded an organisation called Alianza Nacional de Campesiana which represents female farm workers in America, while Meryl Streep brought Ai-jen Poo, director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance.
Rosa Clemente, a community organiser and Hip Hop activist, attended the Globes with actress Susan Sarandon, and Saru Jayaraman, advocate for restaurant workers and co-founder/co-director of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United arrived with Golden Globes host Amy Poehler.
Emma Stone brought tennis player and founder of the Women’s Tennis Association Billie Jean King (yes, the woman Emma played in Battle of the Sexes last year) and Emma Watson attended with fellow Brit Marai Larasi who is the executive director of the IMKAAN network which works to combat violence against black and minority women in the UK.
3. Oprah’s acceptance of the Lifetime Achievement Award was historic
This year was Oprah Winfrey’s turn to accept the coveted Cecil B DeMille Lifetime Achievement award, and much like last year’s recipient Meryl Streep, Oprah lit up the stage with an amazing speech.
In an odd sort of victory, Oprah is the first black woman to be given the award and it’s an accolade that she doesn’t take lightly.
“I’d never seen a black man being celebrated like that”, she said referring to when she watched Sidney Poitier become the first black actor to win an Oscar back when she was a child.
“And I tried many, many times to explain what a moment like that means to a little girl, a kid watching from the cheap seats as my mom came through the door bone-tired from cleaning other people’s houses,” she recalled. “In 1982, Sidney received the Cecil B. DeMille award right here at the Golden Globe awards and it is not lost on me that at this moment, there are some little girls watching as I become the first black woman to be given this same award.”
It’s safe to say that Oprah pretty much stole the show. Her speech was beautifully powerful and resulted in calls from the Twittersphere for Oprah to be the next president of the United States – and we are so here for it.
Oprah Winfrey needs to win a Golden Globe just for this speech #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/8j5nhhOnkR
— Ali (@TvvitterGod1) January 8, 2018
oprah’s speech ruled and also i would like a president with some governing experience
— Ashley Feinberg (@ashleyfeinberg) January 8, 2018
4. Sterling K. Brown and Aziz Ansari made history too
For his role in the brilliant This Is Us, Sterling K. Brown was awarded best TV Lead Actor at the Golden Globes this year, making him the first black actor to win the award in the category.
Thank you! #ThisIsUs #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/Aq8ATN3gcq
— Sterling K Brown (@SterlingKBrown) January 8, 2018
Aziz Ansari also took home the award for Best Comedy Actor for his performance in Master of None, making him the first Asian male actor to win the award.
That’s our boy! 🙌 @azizansari #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/pqzOxkZW2k
— Parks and Recreation (@parksandrecnbc) January 8, 2018
5. Natalie Portman threw some first class shade
For everyone wondering how on earth can you follow a speech like Oprah’s, the short answer is that well, you can’t. But Natalie Portman managed to move things on successfully while announcing the nominees for the Best Director category.
“Honored to be here to present the award for Best Director”, says Ron Howard. “And here are the all male nominees”, Natalie clarifies.
Don’t come for Natalie, people. Don’t even try it.
Natalie Portman calling out the all-male nominees in the best director category is extremely a 2018 mood. #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/Q2L7ieDBjm
— Michael Blackmon (@blackmon) January 8, 2018
6. Lady Bird did really well, as expected
All the buzz about Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut isn’t without reason. And even though Greta, among many other women, definitely deserved to be nominated in this year’s all-male Best Director category (no, we’re not letting this one go), Lady Bird did manage to win the award for Best Picture (Comedy or Musical) and Saoirse Ronan went on to win Best Actress who stars in the film.
7. ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ won the most, though
They say that the Golden Globes are a good indicator of what to expect from the Oscars and I suppose for one film to pull a La La Land and dominate the majority of big awards, we shouldn’t be too surprised if we start hearing the words “Three Billboards” being muttered more frequently.
The film managed to win over favourites Call Me By Your Name, Dunkirk and The Post to win the Best Picture award, and star Frances McDormand won Best Actress for her performance in the film, co-star Sam Rockwell was awarded Best Supporting Actor and writer-director Martin McDonagh won Best Screenplay.
Curious about the hype? Don’t blame you. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing is about a small town in America where, on the route into which, local mother Mildred Heyes (played by Frances) paints three controversial billboards to get the attention of the town’s police chief. Why? Because it’s been months since Mildred’s daughter was murdered and no one has been held accountable yet.
8. Celebs called out the E! Network
You may recall Catt Sadler’s departure from E! last year. She resigned from her presenting post after finding out about a ‘massive pay gap’ between herself and male co-host Jason Kennedy.
Over the weekend Amy Schumer posted on Instagram calling for celebrities to question E! over Catt’s departure while on the red carpet and four actresses took the opportunity to do just that.
While being interviewed by E! representatives on the red carpet, Debra Messing of Will and Grace pointedly said “I was so shocked to hear that E! doesn’t believe in paying their female co-hosts the same as their male co-hosts. I miss Catt Sadler, and we stand with her.”
When Sarah Jessica Parker was being interviewed she slipped in a comment on how gender inequality had ‘affected your network’, and Laura Dern earlier said “We need the powers that be and all the industries and networks and E! to help us with closing this pay gender gap.”
Towards the end of the evening, Eva Longoria, accompanied by enthusiastic nods from Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon, said “We support gender equality and equal pay and we hope E! follows that lead with Catt as well. We stand with you Catt.”
WATCH: Debra Messing calls out E! for pay disparity at the Golden Globes
When Sarah Jessica Parker was being interviewed she slipped in a comment on how gender inequality had ‘affected your network’, and Laura Dern earlier said “We need the powers that be and all the industries and networks and E! to help us with closing this pay gender gap.”
Towards the end of the evening, Eva Longoria, accompanied by enthusiastic nods from Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon, said “We support gender equality and equal pay and we hope E! follows that lead with Catt as well. We stand with you Catt.”
9. The meme of the week was born
If you were wondering which Golden Globes GIF would be doing the rounds on the interweb over the next couple of weeks, our prediction arrives courtesy of James Franco.
Franco won the award for best actor in a musical or comedy for his performance in The Disaster Artist which came as a bit of a surprise – more so to some than others…
Im Hugh Jackman watching James Franco win best actor pic.twitter.com/TXqa9yNdLa
— katie ✨ (@katieenallen) January 8, 2018
When Franco went on stage to collect the award he took his brother Dave Franco and Tommy Wiseau (who he plays) on stage with him. He just made a bit of a point about not letting Tommy do any of the talking…
Words: Jazmin Kopotsha
WATCH: The best dressed at the 75th Annual Golden Globes Awards
This article originally appeared on The Debrief
