By far the biggest moment of the night at the Golden Globes was Meryl Streep‘s acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement award; a speech that was leveled directly at President-Elect Donald Trump. While her words rankled Tucker Carlson and other prominent conservative media figures, it certainly struck a chord with the actress’ peers in Hollywood.
“When the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose,” said Streep in reference to Donald Trump’s mocking of a disabled reporter during a presidential campaign. “It kind of broke my heart when I saw it, and I still can’t get it out my head because it wasn’t in a movie; it was in real life. That instinct to humiliate when it’s modeled by someone in a public platform, it filters down into everyone’s life because it gives permission for others to do the same.”
The response from the attendees at the Beverly Hilton and Hollywood at large was fast and effusive.
There has never been anyone like Meryl Streep. I love her. #GoldenGlobes
– Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) January 9, 2017
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A true inspiration. Meryl, you beautiful soul. Thank you for using your voice to empower. #GoldenGlobes
– Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) January 9, 2017
Everything she said. Thank you #MerylStreep for you work and everything you said tonight. #empathy #GoldenGlobes
– Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) January 9, 2017
She has never been more graceful than tonight, nearly w/out voice, her voice has never been so strong. TY Meryl Streep. #GoldenGlobes
– Sharon Stone (@sharonstone) January 9, 2017
“Take your broken heart and turn it into art…” #MerylStreep direct from @carrieffisher. I’m crying…
– Marlee Matlin (@MarleeMatlin) January 9, 2017
Streep based her speech off the title of the Golden Globes organizers, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. She took time to defend Hollywood, foreigners, and the press in an election she saw as hostile to all three. She called on “the principled press to hold power to account, to call them on the carpet for every outrage,” something that did not go unnoticed by journalists and press organizations.
Thank you Meryl Streep for your generosity & support of our mission to protect journalists and press freedom around the world #GoldenGlobes
– CPJ (@pressfreedom) January 9, 2017
Meryl Streep is right: journalists need protection. A good way to support the free press is to subscribe to a newspaper.
– Mike Rosenberg (@ByRosenberg) January 9, 2017
Why are actors less qualified to comment on political issues than, say, cable TV or talk radio hosts? Never understood this rationale.
– Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 9, 2017
Of course, many of Streep’s supporters were also expecting a reaction from Trump. When the President-elect called Streep “overrated,” they were quick to respond.
What a small, small man. SAD! https://t.co/xq3nV23YRC
– George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) January 9, 2017
trump used his fame to speak out on issues years before he ran 4 office. why was he allowed & Ms Streep should keep quiet? no hypocrisy pls https://t.co/CrpSCREcrw
– Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) January 9, 2017
Trump takes the bait & calls #MerylStreep overrated?! Please Pres-Elect. Don’t make this into the WWF which is fun but not presidential
– Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) January 9, 2017
