The Moments to Know from 2018 Golden Globes

Julie Kosin
Updated
Photo credit: Hearst Communications, Inc. All rights reserved
Photo credit: Hearst Communications, Inc. All rights reserved

From Harper's BAZAAR

Tonight's Golden Globes marked the first major event for awards season 2018 - and the first industry-wide red carpet since the Harvey Weinstein allegations morphed into a national reckoning with sexual abuse and workplace power dynamics. In response to the public exposure of Hollywood's culture of abuse and the surge of cries from the #MeToo movement, more than 300 female celebrities launched the Time's Up initiative to combat gender inequality and sexual harassment and assault in workplaces across all industries. The Golden Globes red carpet became a platform for that message, as Time's Up supporters wore black in solidarity and repeatedly stated their mission alongside activists who joined them on the carpet.

Inside the ceremony, Seth Meyers' monologue addressed the barrage of allegations against some of Hollywood's most powerful men, while many female presenters and winners, including Oprah, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Jessica Chastain, Natalie Portman, Frances McDormand, and Barbra Streisand referenced the Time's Up and #MeToo movements in their speeches. Unfortunately, most of the men who appeared onstage during the ceremony failed to address this conversation, a conspicuous reminder that the fight for equality must extend beyond this night.

Here's what you need to know from the show:

1) Time's Up dominates the red carpet.

In the weeks leading up to tonight's ceremony, a rumor circulated through Hollywood that women attending the Golden Globes would wear black as a protest against sexual harassment and assault. The January 1 New York Times article announcing the establishment of Time's Up confirmed this endeavor. At the Globes, members of Time's Up, including Reese Witherspoon, America Ferrara, Viola Davis, Natalie Portman, Eva Longoria, Meryl Streep, and Kerry Washington, shared their reasons for wearing black and supporting the cause.

Eight attendees brought activists working for a variety of causes as their dates. Michelle Williams attended with #MeToo founder Tarana Burke; Laura Dern brought Mónica Ramírez, co-founder of Alianza Nacional de Campesinas; Meryl Streep accompanied Ai-Jen Poo, the director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance; Emma Stone brought Marai Larasi, co-chair of the End Violence Against Women Coalition; Shailene Woodley attended with Calina Lawrence, a Native Treaty Rights activist; Amy Poehler brought Saru Jayaraman, the president of president of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United; Susan Sarandon accompanied organizer Rosa Clemente; and Emma Stone walked with former tennis champion and women's right activist Billie Jean King. You can read more about these women's causes here.

2) Seth Meyers brings "Jokes Seth Can't Tell" to his monologue.

Late Night host Seth Meyers faced the tough task of setting the tone for the evening, so he called on several of the shows' attendees who are not straight white men to help him deliver: Jessica Chastain, Billy Eichner, Issa Rae, and Hong Chau.

The skit ended memorably with the help of Meyers' former Saturday Night Live Weekend Update co-host, Amy Poehler. She ridiculed Meyers for his privilege before closing the monologue with her own joke.

3) Helen Mirren and Viola Davis present the first award of the night together.

The awards portion of the evening started with a pairing no one knew they needed: Helen Mirren and Viola Davis, who co-presented the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie.

4) Sterling K. Brown becomes the first black man to win a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a TV Drama.

Brown took home the award for his portrayal of Randall Pearson on This Is Us, becoming the first black man to win a Golden Globe in this category. In his speech, Brown thanked This Is Us showrunner Dan Fogelman for creating a role specifically for a black man to play:

"Dan Fogleman, you wrote a role for a black man. Like, that could only be played by a black man. And so what I appreciate so much about this thing is that I've been seen for who I am and being appreciated for who I am. And it makes it that much more difficult to dismiss me or dismiss anybody who looks like me."

5) Laura Dern calls for end to "culture of silencing" in acceptance speech.

Dern won the Golden Globe for her portrayal of Renata Klein in Big Little Lies. In her acceptance speech, she connected Renata's desire for justice for her bullied daughter to the larger conversation surrounding #MeToo and Time's Up in Hollywood:

To David E. Kelly, our superhero who took Liane's words and gave me particularly the most outrageous, complicated woman and a terrified mother - terrified because her little girl was being abused and bullied and she was too afraid to speak up. Many of us were taught not to tattle. It was a culture of silencing and that was normalized. I urge all of us to not only support survivors and bystanders who are brave enough to tell their truth, but to promote restorative justice. May we also please protect and employ them.

6) Oprah galvanizes a movement and makes history with her acceptance of the Cecil B. DeMille award for lifetime achievement.

Oprah became the first black woman to win the Cecil B. DeMille award for lifetime achievement at tonight's ceremony. In an eight-minute speech, she emphasized the need for inclusion and truth and the importance of the press, underscored her commitment to the #MeToo and Time's Up movements, and promised young girls watching at home, "A new day is on the horizon!"

7) Natalie Portman calls out the all-men directing category.

In a quick but pointed moment, Natalie Portman followed Oprah's inspiring acceptance speech with a caustic reference to the "all-male nominees" in the Best Director category.