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9 Times Women Ruled at Last Night’s Golden Globes

In case you somehow fell asleep early on Sunday night, the 75th annual Golden Globes aired, and in doing so, managed to kick off a fresh awards season on a very high note. The star-studded affair was a study in — as award recipient Nicole Kidman put it — “the power of women.”

More: Best GIFs & Behind-the-Scenes Moments at the 2018 Golden Globes

It was virtually impossible not to be moved by the sense of solidarity, strength, support and passion displayed throughout the evening. From walking the red carpet arm-in-arm and raising awareness for the Time’s Up and #MeToo movements to giving speeches full of hope, Hollywood’s leading ladies set the tone for one hell of a new year.

In fact, you could argue that women pretty much stole the show. Need proof? Check out these major moments from the evening.

1. Amy Poehler’s opening monologue gag


As part of a bit by Seth Meyers in the opening monologue, he handed off the mic to Amy Poehler. Er, sort of. In the hilarious moment, Poehler accused Meyers of mansplaining the bit. She also “reclaimed” her wine and teed herself up for a knee-slapping joke.

2. The sisterhood of Big Little Lies


There was nothing little about the magic between the actors of Big Little Lies last night. Laura Dern, Nicole Kidman, Zoë Kravitz, Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley celebrated not only the show’s many wins, but also the wins the night symbolized for women in general. “So much of my career for 27 years I never got to work with another woman,” said Reese Witherspoon when the cast accepted the award for Best Television Limited Series or TV Movie. “Seeing a more dynamic woman on film, I think this is just the beginning.”

3. Carol Burnett’s cameo


When comedy icon Carol Burnett took the stage to present awards, the crowd couldn’t contain their admiration for the TV legend. And proving she’s just as funny as ever, Burnett even delivered a sick burn (all in good fun, of course) to co-presenter Jennifer Aniston. “I’m happy that you’re coming back to television,” Burnett told a gushing Aniston, deadpanning, “Will & Grace was one of my favorite shows.”

More: Best Excerpts From the Golden Globes Winners’ Speeches

4. Natalie Portman sticking it to the man, er, men

When Natalie Portman and Ron Howard approached the podium to hand out an award together, no one predicted Portman would gift us with one of the best lines of the entire show.


Presenting the Best Director category, Portman zinged, “And here are the all-male nominees.” Savage! Twitter loved it considering some highly deserving female directors were overlooked in the nominations (here’s looking at you, Patty Jenkins and Greta Gerwig).

5. The Thelma & Louise mini-reunion

How fun was it that Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon shared the stage together nearly three decades after their cult classic, Thelma & Louise, hit theaters? We especially loved the part when Davis joked of the Best Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama category, “These five nominees agreed to give half their salaries back so the women can make more than them.”

6. Babs pointing out Hollywood’s big problem


Barbra Streisand emerged to present the Best Movie — Drama award but had a bone to pick before handing out the award to Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Taken aback by the commentators’ remark that she was the only female to ever win a Golden Globe for Best Director, Streisand exclaimed of 1983’s Yentl, “That was 34 years ago? Folks, time’s up!”

7. Debra Messing dragging E! for wage inequality

While being interviewed on the red carpet by E! host Giuliana Rancic, Debra Messing took the network to task for its treatment of former host Catt Sadler. [Sadler quit after more than a decade at E! upon learning her cohost, Jason Kennedy, had been making double her salary for several years.]


Said Messing, “I was so shocked to hear that E! doesn’t believe in paying their female cohost the same as their male cohost. 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.”

More: The Best Dressed Celebs at the 2018 Golden Globes

8. Oprah Winfrey’s speech to end all speeches

Our words simply won’t do justice to Oprah Winfrey’s Cecil B. DeMille Award speech, which — like her hug, if Reese Witherspoon is to be believed — could end wars. Do yourself a favor and watch every inspiring second: 

9. The overwhelming atmosphere of empowerment


For the first show of the awards season, you couldn’t have asked for more than the Golden Globes delivered. Women (and men!) wore black in honor of the Times Up coalition to protest sexual misconduct and discrimination. They walked the red carpet alongside female social justice activists. They redirected attention to the #MeToo movement. They championed each other in speeches. The entire night shone with a sense of empowerment and distinctive call to action.

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