The Golden Globe Awards are typically known for being the Academy Awards’ edgier and drunker cousin, led by GIF-able reaction shots and witty one-liners. However, this year’s award ceremony — which aired this past Sunday — put its usual antics aside and gave the reins to a much more effective leader and inspiration — Oprah.

 

In the days following the ceremony, Oprah has emerged as the most memorable presence at the awards show after giving an epic, nine-minute speech for receiving the Cecil B. de Mille Award. Her empowering talk discussed the various sexual harassment bombshells dropped throughout Hollywood and fit in well on a night in which the ‘Time’s Up’ initiative dominated the narrative, raising awareness for victims of sexual assault and harassment. 

 

Oprah’s presence could be felt throughout the event and seemed to invigorate everyone around her. Golden Globe winners Sterling K. Brown, Rachel Brosnahan and Reese Witherspoon couldn’t even make it through their speeches without randomly screaming her name mid-sentence.

 

The atypically serious atmosphere of this year’s awards show wasn’t only created by the empowering speeches, but could also be seen in every shot of the night. A majority of celebrities showed a united front by wearing black in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment against several high profile figures within the entertainment industry. This silent protest was complimented by the awards themselves, as many of the award winners came from media highlighting female perspectives.

 

The television categories were dominated by acclaimed shows like The Handmaid’s Tale, a series that takes place in a dystopian society and gives women no agency that results in a female rebellion against male oppressors. Big Little Lies, which deals with women uniting in the face of domestic abuse, also took home four of its seven major nominations. 

 

Comedy-drama series The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel, which documents a 1950s woman discovering her passion and talent for stand up comedy in the wake of her divorce, similarly managed to take home awards in the typically male-dominated comedy category.

 

In addition, the movie categories saw Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, which deals with a mother’s quest for justice following her daughter’s rape and murder, win the award for Best Motion Picture – Drama. 

 

Star of the comedy crime film Frances McDormand also took home the award for Best Actress — Drama. Lady Bird,which focuses on a complex mother-daughter relationship, won Best Picture — Comedy and Best Actress — Comedy awarded to star Saorise Ronan.

 

These victories demonstrated how giving a voice to typically underrepresented groups in media — like 

women — have the potential to result in the creation of groundbreaking art.

 

However, like most events in Hollywood, the awards show didn’t pass without its own fair share of controversies. 

James Franco, who has faced criticism for his relationships with younger women, was awarded for his leading role as Tommy Wiseau in The Disaster Artist. In the aftermath of his win, two women have come forward about their experiences being harassed by Franco. 

 

Gary Oldman, who won Best Actor — Drama for his turn as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour, has also faced backlash following his victory as previous reports of abuse towards his ex-wife have resurfaced. Ironically, both Franco and Oldman wore the ‘Time’s Up’ ribbon, in an attempt to stand in solidarity with Hollywood in the face 

of harassment. 

 

In a widely-discussed moment of the show, Natalie Portman made a short but cutting remark to the HFPA while presenting the award for Best Director. Portman voiced her displeasure at the lack of women nominees in the category, especially considering 2017 featured multiple critically acclaimed films directed by women like Lady Bird and Wonder Woman. 

 

Portman made sure to inform the audience of her disapproval by very specifically referring to 

the categories’ “all-male nominees.” The clear discomfort on the faces of each nominee in the aftermath of her comment showed how her words strongly resonated in an industry where women are consistently overlooked.

 

In the days since the ceremony, it’s clear the 2018 Golden Globes will be remembered for their dramatic shift in tone surrounding the ever-increasing amount of Hollywood staples being accused of sexual harassment. While usually regarded as the least prestigious of the major awards shows — and therefore often the most enjoyable to watch — the united front from Hollywood provided a much more meaningful and somber night than viewers have 

grown to expect.