Golden Globes Make Uncomfortable Return in Night of Awkward Speeches

The Golden Globe Awards show and red carpet returned to TV on January 10, 2023, after two years of turmoil and unusual broadcasts.

• The show's previous typical broadcast — red carpet and all — took place in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic largely shut down Hollywood through 2021 and controversy marred the 2022 Globes.
• Tonight, the show and its red carpet finally returned in their usual form — albeit less glitzy than usual.
• Fallout from Jerrod Carmichael's cutting jokes and monologue dominated the social media discussion.
• The Fabelmans, The White Lotus and The Banshees of Inisherin were some of the most decorated properties.

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© Jeff Spicer / Jonathan Hession/Getty Images / Searchlight Pictures Martin McDonagh reunites Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson for the new movie "The Banshees of Inisherin" after they worked together on "In Bruges". Jeff Spicer / Jonathan Hession/Getty Images / Searchlight Pictures

The biggest and final two awards of the night are Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy and Best Motion Picture — Drama.

The musical or comedy category went to The Banshees of Inisherin, with Martin McDonagh and Graham Broadbent accepting and speaking on behalf of the cast and crew of The Banshees of Inisherin.

"We had a very happy time making this film in Ireland," producer Graham Broadbent said, "and we're still friends at the end of it, we still speak to each other, which is a good thing."

Steven Spielberg's The Fabelmans won the drama award. Spielberg accepted the award and told the crowd about the days when he worked as legendary director John Cassavetes' production assistant.

© Getty Images Eddie Murphy and Paige Butcher attend the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 10, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. Getty Images

Eddie Murphy was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award to recognize his impact on TV and film. To close his acceptance speech, he offered young artists a "blueprint" for success.

"Pay your taxes," he said. "Mind your business. And keep Will Smith's wife's name out [unintelligible] mouth." The crowd applauded.

After Will Smith slapped Murphy's peer and fellow comic Chris Rock across the face at the 2022 Oscars, he was heard shouting, "Keep my wife's name out your f****** mouth." Rock had joked that Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, looked like the movie character G.I. Jane because of her baldness.

Mike White, the creator of HBO's The White Lotus, accepted the award for Best Television — Limited Series, Anthology Series or Television Motion Picture. But his plan to speak the language of his hit show's shooting location was foiled.

"I was gonna give this speech in Italian," White said as he began his acceptance speech, "but I'm too drunk because there was no food. The food when we got there, it was like, 'The food is over, you can't have any, [unintelligible] drink."

© Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images North America [MAIN] mike White attends the "Survivor: David Vs. Goliath" Finale at CBS Televison City on December 19, 2018 in Los Angeles. [INSET] Jennifer Coolidge stars as Tanya in 'The White Lotus' season two. Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images North America

He went on to thank HBO for taking The White Lotus on, and added that when he was first shopping the show around, "everybody passed. You all passed," he said, surveying the room of Hollywood bigwigs. "You all passed on the show. So it's very gratifying to have this moment."

After an ad break, host Jerrod Carmichael jabbed Will Smith with a joke referencing the infamous moment at the 2022 Oscars when he slapped Chris Rock across the face onstage.

"While we were on commercial," Carmichael said, "we actually presented Will Smith with the Rock Hudson Award for the Best Portrayal of Masculinity on Television. So please give it up for Will Smith, you guys."

© Getty Images Jerrod Carmichael (L) is pictured at the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022. Will Smith (R) slaps Chris Rock (center) onstage during the 94th Oscars on March 27, 2022. Carmichael skewered Smith with a joke at the Golden Globes on January 10, 2022. Getty Images

Smith wasn't present at the awards show. Rock Hudson was a star of classic Hollywood who lived his life in the closet due to fears that coming out would destroy his career.

Viewers took to Twitter to share their views of the joke.

"Did I mishear that or did they just cheap [...] joke demean Rock Hudson and Will Smith after the heartfelt LGBTQIA boosting by Ryan Murphy," one user tweeted.

"Didn't Rock Hudson suffer enough in his lifetime?" another wrote.

Austin Butler picked up the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for his portrayal of Elvis Presley in Elvis.

Brendan Fraser was also nominated for The Whale but he did not attend the ceremony. He has a longstanding policy of not attending the Golden Globes, ever since he says the then-HFPA president groped him in 2003.

© Getty Images Austin Butler (L) won an acting award at the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 10, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. Brendan Fraser was up for the same award, seen (R) attending the 2023 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Night Gala at Palm Springs Convention Center on January 5, 2023 in Palm Springs, California. Getty Images

Both actors will be Oscar hopefuls for their 2022 performances.

Michelle Yeoh of Everything Everywhere All At Once collected the trophy for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Pictures — Musical or Comedy and gave a lengthy speech. Midway through, she cheekily told the pianist trying to play her off, "Shut up please. I can beat you up."

Yeoh started the speech by announcing that she wanted to take her time and soak the experience in. She explained there was a moment a few years ago when she thought her career had already peaked, until the opportunity to star in Everything Everywhere All At Once came along.

© Amy Sussman/Getty Images Michelle Yeoh attends the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 10, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. Amy Sussman/Getty Images

The directors, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, "had the courage to write about a very ordinary immigrant aging woman, mother, daughter..." Yeoh said. "I was given this gift of playing this woman who resonated so deeply with me and so many people."

Yeoh divulged on the red carpet earlier in the night that she was aware of Oscar buzz surrounding her role. "I've been waiting 40 years for this," she said. Academy Award nominations haven't been announced yet, but Yeoh's Golden Globe win might just push her up the list.

Host Jerrod Carmichael introduced Jennifer Coolidge to the stage to present the award for Best Supporting Actor — Musical, Comedy or Drama Television Series. Coolidge is having a career renaissance thanks to HBO's The White Lotus.

Coolidge took the stage and told a meandering story about being invited to present at the show. "I am so touched that you would want me to do something but I wanna tell you something, there's no way that I'm gonna make it from behind the curtain all the way to the podium without breaking my skull. You know because of all these over waxed floors and stuff."

The show's booker told Coolidge, "Then why don't you just wear a pair of Crocs?" she recalled. She concluded with an anecdote about mispronouncing the names of Bill Nighy and Kaley Cuoco at parties and seemed to be going over her allotted time, but fans loved it.

Stand-up comedian Jerrod Carmichael opened the 80th Golden Globes ceremony with a monologue that took aim at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's well-documented recent controversies.

Carmichael talked about weighing the options of whether he should've taken the job, concluding drily, "I would've taken this job if they hadn't changed at all."

Twitter users sense discomfort through the TV screen. "The feeling of discomfort and awkwardness in the room during Jerrod Carmichael's monologue could probably power a country," Philip Lewis tweeted.

Some were tickled by the awkwardness. "I love Jerrod Carmichael for making this as uncomfortable as it absolutely should be."

At least one viewer might have found it a bit too dry, writing, "I do not think this monologue is funny at all from Jerrod Carmichael. Yikes."

© Amy Sussman/Getty Images Michelle Yeoh walks the gray carpet at the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 10, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. Amy Sussman/Getty Images

The Golden Globes have yet to begin, but Michelle Yeoh, star of Everything Everywhere All at Once, is already fielding questions about the Academy Awards.

Rumors are swirling that Yeoh will be a contender for Best Actress at the 2023 Academy Awards. Variety's Marc Malkin asked Yeoh during the pre-show broadcast if she was excited about this development. She said yes.

"I've been waiting 40 years for this," she gushed.

Yeoh added that she's also happy to be performing in the upcoming movie version of Wicked with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.

Poker Face star Natasha Lyonne revealed a dramatic new hairstyle on the red carpet.

Known for her long, red curly hair, Lyonne appeared with a blunt bob and textured bangs.

She completed the look with a ruched black dress, complete with angular shoulder pads and stunning gold bracelets.

Lyonne will be presenting an award at tonight's ceremony.

© Matt Winkelmeyer/Filmmagic Natasha Lyonne attends the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 10, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. Matt Winkelmeyer/Filmmagic

© Amy Sussman/Getty Images Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, co-stars from "Hacks," arrive at the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 10, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Hacks co-stars Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder arrived separately to the Golden Globes after a day of shooting their HBO show, Smart said.

Variety's correspondent asked Einbinder if she'd ever smoked cannabis with Smart. "Jean doesn't like weed," Einbinder said. I'm working on it but she doesn't care for pot. She likes a nice chardonnay with some ice."

When asked for her drink of choice, Einbinder said, "I gotta go kombucha. I'm trying to get a little bit of a probiotic jolt."

© Matt Winkelmeyer/Filmmagic Jamie Lee Curtis (L) and Barry Keoghan attend the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 10, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. Matt Winkelmeyer/Filmmagic

Jamie Lee Curtis is not only "very down" to make a second Freaky Friday with Lindsay Lohan but she may have already spoken to Hollywood executives about it.

Curtis appeared on the Golden Globes red carpet ahead of her nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture for Everything Everywhere All At Once.

She was asked if she would make a new Freaky Friday, the noughties remake of the classic body swap film.

"Of course, I'm very down," she told Variety.

Curtis admitted she speaks to Lohan "all the time" and admitted that not only had they already discussed making a new Freaky Friday, but teased they've also had meetings with Hollywood bosses to make it happen.

© WireImage/Getty Images Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jamie Lee Curtis and Laverne Cox arrive at the Beverly Hilton for the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 10, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. WireImage/Getty Images

Celebrities boycotted the Golden Globes en masse in 2022, but they're back in full force for the event's red carpet tonight — the first full-scale Globes carpet since 2020. Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jamie Lee Curtis and Laverne Cox led the charge by arriving at the Beverly Hilton early on.

The Golden Globes have long been known as awards season's wildest night. For one thing, guests have historically sat at round tables instead of theater seats — all the better for propping up glass after glass of high-end booze.

Additionally, the show is not considered quite as prestigious as the Academy Awards. It includes awards for television and comedy performances, after all. And its slot earlier in the season renders it something of a pre-game for the Grammys, Oscars and even the SAG Awards.

© Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal/Getty In this handout photo provided by NBCUniversal, L to R Tina Fey and Amy Poehler host the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel International Ballroom on January 13, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal/Getty

The show has always been relatively informal and driven by comedy, with hosts such as Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Ricky Gervais guiding the night. But in the past two years, the wheels threatened to fall off the entire thing.

Last year saw a boycott against the show's governing body, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. This was sparked by a scandal when Phil Berk, the HFPA's president, wrote an email calling Black Lives Matter a "racist hate movement."

Stars also took issue with the HFPA's lack of diversity: despite being made up of around 90 entertainment journalists from 55 countries, the group reportedly hadn't brought in a new Black member since 2002.

The HFPA tried to rectify this by announcing it had added 21 new members of varying diversity. Still, there wasn't much of an appetite among A-listers to attend the ceremony in 2022. This led to a pared-down ceremony that was photographed, but not broadcast.

The previous year, the Globes were slimmed down for a different reason. COVID-19 regulations were still in effect, so the red carpet and ceremony featured a skeleton crew of presenters. Most winners accepted their statuettes virtually — the biggest victor of the night was the miracle of teleconferencing.

© Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association Rosie Perez announces Anya Taylor-Joy the winner of the Best Actress - Television Motion Picture award via livestream during the 78th Annual Golden Globe® Awards at The Rainbow Room on February 28, 2021 in New York City. Taylor-Joy was among three Latinos nominated at this year's Golden Globes, and the only one to take home an award. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Hollywood Foreign Press Association

This year, the red carpet and the ceremony itself are back in full force. Stand-up comic and actor Jerrod Carmichael is hosting and there's a star-studded nominee list — but it's anyone's guess whether A-listers will indeed show up.

Brendan Fraser, a favorite in the acting category after last year's The Whale, set the trend of Globe boycotts: he hasn't attended the show since 2003, when he says then-HFPA President Berk groped him. The HFPA released a statement at the time saying Berk's action was meant "in jest."

Berk finally left the organization in April 2021 after the BLM email scandal, but Fraser told GQ he would still not attend the ceremony this year.

• The Golden Globes' 80th annual outing airs on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET.
• The ceremony, which takes place at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, California, is available to watch on streaming service Peacock as well as NBC.com.
• Those who prefer terrestrial television can watch the Globes on NBC.
• Variety.com is hosting a digital pre-show with red carpet coverage from 3:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. ET.
• Boasting an Old Hollywood theme with a gray carpet, showrunner Dionne Harmon told Variety, the pre-show will also air on GoldenGlobes.com.

© Getty Images/Netflix Roeban Katz, Alexandre Desplat, Kate Hudson and Guillermo del Toro attend the Netflix Golden Globe and Critics Choice Nominee Toast at Catch LA on January 8, 2023, in West Hollywood, California. The Golden Globes return to television on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, after last year's awards were marred by controversy and didn't make it to broadcast. Getty Images/Netflix

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