There are a lot of reasons why we watch awards ceremonies like the Golden Globes. We love all the pretty, glittery dresses. We watch for the rare chance to see certain Hollywood couples in action. Or maybe we just enjoy the pure entertainment value of the admittedly silly broadcasts. But amidst all the Hollywood hoopla, sometimes we are blessed with kernels of earnest inspiration from impassioned acceptance speeches.
At the end of the night, this is why we watch — because, whether we like it or not, entertainment awards matter. As we emerge from the turbulence of 2016, it would seem these shows matter even more. The air at the 2017 Golden Globes ceremony was thick with looming inauguration of President-elect Trump, and celebrities seemed to feel the need to address him, both directly and indirectly. In fact, nearly every acceptance speech at the Golden Globes attempted to provide insightful takeaways for viewers at home. (Some were wildly successful. Some were wildly not so much.)
Ahead, find the speeches from the night that took the glitz of the night into very real territory.
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Meryl Streep
Accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award this year, Streep chose to make her speech overtly about Trump. She specifically brought up a moment during the campaign when Trump openly mocked a disabled reporter. The speech roused the crowd, the Twittersphere, and even Donald Trump himself. Billy Eichner, the comedian behind Billy on the Street, entered into a feud on behalf of Streep's words.
Trump aside, Streep encouraged empathy among her fellow Hollywood insiders.
"An actor's only job is to enter the lives of people who are different from us and let you feel what that feels like," she said.
Photo: Handout/Getty Images.
Viola Davis
The nod for her role in Fences came after her fifth nomination — and, like Davis said, the win was "right on time." The actress pointed out that Fences wasn't exactly the type of movie that screamed box office billions.
"It's not every day that Hollywood thinks of translating a play to screen," she said. "It doesn't scream money maker, you know? But it does scream art. It does scream heart."
Photo: David Crotty/Getty Images.
Donald Glover
Glover won for both Best Actor in a Television Series Comedy and Best Series TV Comedy for his show Atlanta. In his speech, he likened cinema to magic and hinted at that magic's ability to encourage.
"I grew up in a house where magic wasn't allowed, so everyone in here is like magical to me. Like every time I saw a movie or a Disney movie, I was like, oh, magic is from people... We tell a story to children so that they do something that we never thought was possible," the actor and writer said.
Photo: Jim Smeal/REX/Shutterstock.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Ross, who won for her role on B lack-ish, had a lot to say in her speech, and we're exceedingly grateful she was given the platform.
The 44-year-old dedicated her award to women of color fighting to be seen in the industry. She said, "This is for all of the women, women of color, colorful people whose stories, ideas, thoughts are not always considered worthy and valid and important. But I want you to know that I see you, we see you. It is an honor to be on this show, B lack-ish. To continue expanding the way we are seen and known. And to show the magic and the beauty and the sameness of a story and stories that are outside of where the industry usually looks.”
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images.
Tom Hiddleston
Hiddleston's speech went south when he brought up Sudan. A word to the wise: Don't bring up war-torn countries while accepting an award. The move was poorly advised, and Twitter took Hiddleston, who won for The Night Manager, to task for it.
Photo: David Crotty/Getty Images.
Barry Jenkins
Moonlight 's late-night win at Sunday's ceremony stunned. When director Barry Jenkins accepted the award for best motion picture, he asked for very little.
"For everyone on Twitter, everybody back home in Miami and New Orleans, if you have seen this film and you told a friend, all I ever say is tell a friend, tell a friend, tell a friend."
Photo: Robyn Beck/Getty Images.
Emma Stone
Stone dedicated her La La Land win to the creatives struggling to make art.
"This is a film for dreamers," Stone said. "So, to any creative person who's had a door slammed in their face, either metaphorically or physically...anybody anywhere, really, who feels like giving up, but finds it in themselves to keep moving forward, I share this with you."
Photo: David Crotty/Getty Images.
Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Clark Spencer
The sleeper hit Zooptopia is a film about diversity in the guise of a playful animated flick. When it won for Best Animated Film at the Globes, the three directors made a subtle dig at those who stoke anxiety about difference.
"We wanted Zootopia to be a film that not only entertained kids but also spoke to adults about embracing diversity even when there are people in the world who want to divide us by using fear," said co-director Byron Howard. After his statement, the room cheered.
Photo: Owen Kolasinski/BFA/REX/Shutterstock.
Hugh Laurie
The star of The Night Manager stated, "I accept this award on behalf of psychopathic billionaires everywhere." Now, who might that psychopathic billionaire be?
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images.
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