Meryl Streep's Golden Globes Speech Sparks Donations Surge for Press Freedom Group

NBC

Meryl Streep had the most memorable — and consequential — speech of the night at Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards show.

The Oscar winner received the Cecil B. DeMille career achievement award, but rather than recite tales from her illustrious career, Streep took aim at President-elect Donald Trump.

She vociferously defended the role of a watchdog media, naming the Committee to Protect Journalists outright as an organization she supports and urges others to also back.

Also Read: MMA Fighters Steamed Meryl Streep Said Their Sport Isn't Art

The mention of the journalism advocacy group in Streep’s speech sparked a surge of donations to the organization. It also came as a complete surprise to CPJ leaders.

Streep called out an incident in which Trump appeared to mock a disabled reporter, saying it broke her heart and “when the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose.” And toward the end of her speech, she issued a call to action to defend members of the media under a president who appears to have little respect for the institution.

Also Read: Hollywood Heaps Praise on Meryl Streep's Anti-Trump Speech: 'True Inspiration'

“I only ask the famously well-heeled Hollywood Foreign Press and all of us in our community to join me in supporting the Committee to Protect Journalists, because we’re gonna need them going forward, and they’ll need us to help them safeguard the truth,” Streep said.

Streep’s clarion call went out to the Globes’ estimated 20 million viewers, and hundreds responded with immediate action.

Courtney Radsch, the CPJ’s advocacy director, told TIME the organization received 700 donations on Sunday night alone, compared with the usual five. That’s a 140 percent jump.

Also Read: At Golden Globes Parties, Meryl Streep's Anti-Trump Speech Fuels Debate

The organization confirmed to TheWrap that it has received 1,175 donations since Streep’s speech, totaling a little more than $90,000.

“It’s really an exciting opportunity to talk to a whole new audience,” Radsch told TheWrap. “People who may have never heard of the Committee to Protect Journalists.”

And she’s hoping the organization can ride the current momentum.

Also Read: Donald Trump Not Surprised 'Liberal Movie People' Like Meryl Streep Bashed Him at Golden Globes

“Our hope is to turn this into more sustained engagement,” she said. “There was such an outpouring of support.”

Having the support of one of Hollywood’s icons certainly helps.

Golden Globes: 11 Best and Worst Moments, From Meryl Streep to 'Hidden Fences' (Photos)

Best: Jimmy Fallon's Broken Teleprompter

Host Jimmy Fallon was forced to think on his feet at the top of the show when the Teleprompter broke right as he began his opening monologue. That's the risk you run with a live event.
NBC
Worst: "Hidden Fences"

Both Michael Keaton and Jenna Bush (during NBC's red carpet pre-show) flubbed the title of "Hidden Figures," referring to it as "Hidden Fences." We're sure Denzel Washington and Viola Davis didn't mind.
NBC
Best: Ryan Gosling's Tribute to Brother-in-Law

In accepting his award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy, "La La Land" star Ryan Gosling honored the memory of his wife's brother, who died after battling cancer.
Getty Images
Worst: Sofia Vergara "Anal" Joke

Sofia Vergara continued to play up her broken English for laughs. This time, she mispronounced "annual" as "anal" several times in introducing Sylvester Stallone's daughters as Miss Golden Globes.
NBC
Best: Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig Share Traumatic Movie Experiences

Before announcing the winner of Best Animated Film, Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig shared their first experience attending animated movies. Both kept the audience rolling with painfully emotional stories from their childhoods.
NBC
Worst: "Chastain and the Redmayne"

Sorry, Jimmy Fallon, but leave the rapping to the pros. Fallon introduced Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne, playing off their names in a quick spoof of the Cypress Hill classic "Insane in the Membrane."
Getty Images
Best: Debbie Reynolds & Carrie Fisher Tribute

Admit it, you choked up a little when the video of the two late, great actresses rolled with "You Made Me Love You" playing over it.
HBO
Best: Andrew Garfield and Ryan Reynolds Kiss

It almost slipped by, but eagle-eyed viewers caught the two actors locking lips after Ryan Gosling won for "La La Land." Whether or not tongue was involved is anybody's guess.
NBC
Worst: Casey Affleck's Acceptance Speech

Casey Affleck may have won for "Manchester by the Sea," but his speech was not awards-worthy. The younger Affleck looked in need of a nap (and a shave) as he delivered his speech on stage.
Getty Images
Best: Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep is the best by default, but she reminded us why when she accepted her Cecil B. Demille Award. In a passionate speech, Streep called out Donald Trump for his bullying tactics (without mentioning his name), as well as calling on Hollywood to support a free and independent press.
NBC
Best: Matt Damon Mocks "The Martian"

Matt Damon has always been able to laugh at himself. Before presenting an award, Damon laughingly reminisced about how he won in the comedy category last year for his role in "The Martian," a fact he said was funnier than anything that happened in "The Martian."
20th Century Fox

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Relive the highlights and lowlights of the 2017 awards ceremony

Best: Jimmy Fallon's Broken Teleprompter

Host Jimmy Fallon was forced to think on his feet at the top of the show when the Teleprompter broke right as he began his opening monologue. That's the risk you run with a live event.

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