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Oprah Was an Inspo Machine at the Golden Globes Last Night—but She Wasn’t the Only One

Tehrene Firman
January 8, 2018
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Photo: Getty Images/FREDERIC J. BROWN
Last night's Golden Globe Awards should go down in history for many different reasons (did you see the amazing sea of black gowns?). But you really can't talk about the broadcast without starting with Oprah Winfrey's landmark speech.

After her A Wrinkle in Time co-star Reese Witherspoon presented Winfrey the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement, the talk-show host, actress, and philanthropist spoke straight gospel about race, gender, general equality, and more. She also told the early #MeToo story of Recy Taylor, a black woman who was raped in the Jim Crow era and never received the justice she deserved—even with Rosa Parks' help. But Winfrey assured the audience that things are changing for the better.

"I want all the girls watching here, now, to know that a new day is on the horizon." —Oprah Winfrey

"I've interviewed and portrayed people who've withstood some of the ugliest things life can throw at you, but the one quality all of them seem to share is an ability to maintain hope for a brighter morning, even during our darkest nights. So I want all the girls watching here, now, to know that a new day is on the horizon," she said during her speech. "And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of whom are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men, fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say 'Me too' again."

Winfrey's inspiring speech wasn't the only noteworthy #girlpower moment of the Golden Globes, though. The awards show was full of evidence of who, exactly, runs the world.

Here are 5 other inspiring moments at last night's Golden Globes.

1. Activists walking the red carpet

Instead of bringing just anyone as a plus one, plenty of stars invited activists to walk the red carpet with them: Michelle Williams brought "Me Too" creator Tarana Burke, Amy Poehler brought restaurant workers advocate Saru Jayaraman, Meryl Streep walked with National Domestic Workers Alliance executive director Ai-Jen poo, and Emma Watson took feminist leader Marai Larasi, to name a few.

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2. Debra Messing calls out E! for wage parity during her E! interview

During her red-carpet interview with E! about the iconic evening, Debra Messing got right to the point. In December, longtime E! News host Catt Sadler quit her job after opening up about her male co-host making double her salary—and the Will & Grace star wasn't into that at all.

"I was so shocked to hear that E! doesn’t believe in paying their female co-host the same as their male co-host,” Messing said during the interview. "I miss Catt Sadler. So we stand with her. And that’s something that can change tomorrow. We want people to start having this conversation that women are just as valuable as men." 

3. Amy Poehler's epic monologue bit

Amy Poehler might have just coined the biggest catchphrase of 2018. During Seth Meyers' monologue, he asked actresses and actors in the crowd to give him some punch lines to his jokes—but the Parks and Recreation funny lady wasn't into the setup, for super-empowered reasons.

After saying she doesn't need his help telling a great joke and asking if he's mansplaining how to be a comedian, Poehler prepared for her punch line by grabbing her glass, taking a sip, and saying, "I'm reclaiming my wine"—a nod to representative Maxine Waters. Then without a setup, she went for her joke: "Said the peach in Call Me by Your Name, 'This scene is the pits!'" Nice one, Poehler.

 

4. Natalie Portman calls out "all male nominees"

When presenting the award for Best Director, Natalie Portman made the audience very aware of a certain detail: There wasn't even one woman nominated. Before reading off the names, she said "and here are the all male nominees," emphasizing the gender bias in a simple yet totally fierce way. That sentence became a highlight of the entire night.

5. Frances McDormand telling her fellow female nominees: “Tequila's on me”

Want some tequila? Hit up Frances McDormand, who's buying rounds for everyone. While accepting her first Golden Globe Award, she didn't hold back with her acceptance speech: "Well, I have a few things to say. All you ladies in this category: bar. Tequila’s on me." Here's to hoping she was taken up on the offer—there was so much to celebrate.

Check out these Golden Globe noms that highlighted athletic boss babes. Or, learn Julianne Moore's free secret to maintaining perfect skin.

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