During this year’s Golden Globe awards, several women took their moments on stage to voice the need for inclusion, diversity and *gasp* support for women.
The 2019 Golden Globes have come and gone. There were some losses we still feel a little salty about (Crazy Rich Asians, Black Panther, of course Lady Gaga). Add that with the fact women were shut out of both the Best Director category and for Best Composer means there is still a lot of work to be done.
Still, still, there were some amazing moments for women that lifted this award show to a level we have not seen in many years (if ever) and we admit that Sandra Oh pointed it out quite early on.
As co-host of the Golden Globes alongside Andy Samberg, Oh said that while she may have been afraid of standing on that stage and hosting such a major event, she did it anyway because of one inspiring reason.
“I wanted to be here to look out into this audience and witness this moment of change — right now, this moment is real,” Oh said to the audience, and really, to all of us.
Without further ado, here are several impactful moments for women during the Golden Globes.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 06: First-ever Golden Globe television special achievement award, named after her, recipient actress Carol Burnett poses in the press room during the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 6, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Carol Burnett receives namesake award
Since 1952, actors and actresses who have given the world outstanding contributions in the entertainment industry have been awarded the Cecil B. Demille award. But now, there is an achievement award named after a legendary woman, Carol Burnett.
If you’re like me, you may have teared up seeing Burnett receive the achievement award that will bear her name from here on out. Seeing a montage of her work and listening to her talk about her career with such fondness and pride was refreshing and illuminating.
Burnett shared “sometimes I catch myself daydreaming about being young again and doing it all over, and then I bring myself up short when I realize how incredibly fortunate I was to be there at the right time.”
Carol Burnett is an icon and we can’t imagine a world where she didn’t give us shows like Mama’s House or the Carol Burnett Show.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 06: Regina King attends the InStyle And Warner Bros. Golden Globes After Party 2019 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 6, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)
Regina King’s feminist pledge
After winning Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for If Beale Street Could Talk, Regina King delivered an impactful speech with a feminist focus.
The fact that she got the orchestra to stop playing her off by refusing to stop talking made her speech that much more iconic. (This moment is slightly annoying when you consider the fact that later in the ceremony, Peter Farrelly, director of the Green Book, only had to tell them to stop playing for them to let him finish.)
In a vow to every person in the industry, King said for the next two years, she plans to “make sure that everything I produce is 50 percent women.” She pushed others with a platform and power to follow her, saying “I challenge you to challenge yourself to stand with us in solidarity and do the same.”
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 06: Host and Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series Drama ‘for Killing Eve’ winner Sandra Oh poses in the press room during the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 6, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Sandra Oh’s historic Golden Globes night
In epic fashion, Sandra Oh won the Golden Globes.
Not only was she an amazing host, bursting with grace, elegance and humor, but she made history as the first person of Asian descent to host the Globes (well, first ever for any of the major awards shows, including the Grammys, the Emmys and the Oscars).
When Oh won Lead Actress in a Drama for Killing Eve, her emotional “Daddy!” followed by a touching tribute to her parents was enough to get everyone teared up.
The historical significance of her win has layers. She’s the first Asian to win a Golden Globe in this particular category in 39 years, and the first female of Asian descent to ever win more than one Golden Globe in multiple categories. Oh won her first Golden Globe back in 2006 for her time on Grey‘s Anatomy as Cristina Yang.
Basically, Sandra Oh made history at the Golden Globes three times and we have nothing but love and admiration for her achievements.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 06: (EDITORS NOTE: Retransmission with alternate crop.) Winner for Best Original Song – Motion Picture for ‘Shallow – A Star is Born’ Lady Gaga poses with the trophy in the press room during the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 6, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Lady Gaga points out what it means to be a woman in music
After winning the Golden Globe for Best Original Song for “Shallow,” Lady Gaga took the stage along with Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando, and Andrew Wyatt. And while Ronson did most of the speaking (*cough cough*), it was Lady Gaga‘s explanation of what this means for women in the industry that struck a chord.
“I just have to say, as a woman in music, it is really hard to be taken seriously as a musician and as a songwriter,” the A Star Is Born actress shared.
She noted that thanks to the men on stage with her, who supported her and also helped lift her up, she was able to work her magic and for that, we have been gifted with a song that is a Golden Globe winner.
We completely understand how hard it can be as women to be taken seriously in several industries (heck, nearly all). We appreciate the fact that Lady Gaga reminded the world that for some of us, it is still difficult to be regarded as a serious contributor just because of our gender.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 06: Glenn Close attends the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 6, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Glenn Close offers message to all women
After winning Best Actress for her role in The Wife, Glenn Close spoke to all the women in the audience, delivering a speech that inspired a standing ovation.
Close pointed out that as women, we tend to be nurturers. But just because we take care of other people in our lives, “we have to find personal fulfillment. We have to follow our dreams. We have to say, ‘I can do that and I should be allowed to do that.'”
It is hard to say much about a message that was flawlessly delivered. After nearly 45 years as a working actress, Close is someone who is iconic in many ways. And her speech just proved that we can all learn something new and be reminded of the fact that we have dreams that we need to follow for ourselves.
Women were our stars of the Golden Globes. While we were disappointed by some of the losses, such as Crazy Rich Asians and Black Panther, we are also happy for moments shared by the inspiring women above.
Plain and simple, there is a lot more work to be done before we can say that the Golden Globes — and entertainment as a whole — are truly inclusive.