The Seven Most Memorable Moments From The Golden Globes

During his opening monologue, host and comedian Jerrod Carmichael poked fun at the awards show, joking that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association—which last year faced allegations that it was corrupt and not inclusive enough—hired him because he’s Black, saying that “one minute you’re making mint tea at home; the next you’re invited to be the Black face of an embattled white organization.”

Carmichael also poked fun at Hollywood’s reaction to the controversy, particularly actor Tom Cruise returning his three Golden Globes in 2021 in protest, joking that he had found the trophies backstage and that maybe he could “exchange them for the safe return of Shelly Miscavige,” Scientology leader David Miscavige’s wife, who has not been seen in public since August 2007, which has led to speculation about her whereabouts and safety. (Cruise is a longtime member and vociferously vocal proponent of the Church of Scientology.)

Jennifer Coolidge, after winning for her role in The White Lotus, thanked show creator Mike White in a speech that went viral, joking about her character Tanya’s untimely demise and that “even if this is the end—because you did kill me off!—you changed my life in a million different ways.” (Clips of Colin Farrell going out of his way to walk Coolidge onstage also went viral).

Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson interrupted her own acceptance speech when she saw a famous face in the audience: “Comedy brings people together. Comedy gives us all the same laugh—hey, Brad Pitt,” she said.

Several winners were ushered offstage by the sound of a piano, like Michelle Yeoh, who after winning her first Golden Globe for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once, said, “Shut up, please. I can beat you up, okay? And that’s serious.” (Carmichael later clarified the music used to play winners off stage was prerecorded, and the show’s pianist, Chloe Flower, took to Twitter to say she was only performing on camera, saying, “I would never play piano over people’s speeches.”)

Comedian Eddie Murphy accepted a lifetime achievement award from the HFPA and shared his “definitive blueprint” to succeed in Hollywood: “It’s very simple, just do these three things: Pay your taxes, mind your business and keep Will Smith’s wife’s name out your f*cking mouth,” referring to Smith slapping Chris Rock at last year’s Oscars.

Regina Hall, when picking up Kevin Costner’s award for Yellowstone, laughed about why the actor couldn’t make to the award ceremony after reading off the teleprompter that “he has to shelter in place in Santa Barbara,” as a result of the flooding there and in other wealthy areas of California, joking, “Jesus, that is a sad story right now . . . he’s stuck in Santa Barbara . . . let’s pray, everyone!”