The Golden Globe Awards on Sunday had everything – jokes which fell flat, public displays of affection, and plenty of Taylor Swift.
Oppenheimer, Poor Things and The Holdovers were among the big film winners, while Succession, Beef and The Bear scored some of the big prizes in the TV categories. The Globes lived up to its boozy reputation with the red carpet even having its own bar along the way, the BBC's Los Angeles correspondent Emma Vardy said.
As the stars passed underneath the signature golden chandelier and greeted each other, the glamorous night had a feel-good factor about it, a big contrast from the animosity felt over the actors and writers strikes a few months ago.
As the last champagne glasses are drained and the red carpet is rolled up, here are seven highlights from the ceremony:
1. A muted response to the host
Comic Jo Koy, a first-time presenter at the Globes, struggled to get his opening monologue off the ground. As BuzzFeed's David Mack joked, Koy's monologue was, “in a tribute to Oppenheimer, a bomb”.
Koy himself seemed to acknowledge some of his jokes weren't catching fire – at one point, he told the audience: “I got this gig 10 days ago, you want a perfect monologue?!” Here's a selection of his one-liners:
- “When the Globes called me and asked if I wanted to host, I jumped at the chance. Then they asked me if I saw the movies and TV shows, and I said yes. I lied.”
- “The minute I signed the contract, I started to binge watch everything, while my family were out there clanking champagne glasses and ringing in the new year, I was watching Oppenheimer. I just have one complaint: It needed another hour.”
- “Oppenheimer answered a question that's been on my mind for years: Yes scientists do get laid. As long as they look like Cillian Murphy.”
- “Robert de Niro. Your last performance has got to be your greatest performance ever. How did you get her pregnant at 80?”
- “Succession has nine nominations – a great series about a rich, white dysfunctional family, all scheming… oh no that's The Crown, sorry.”
- “How great was Imelda Staunton in The Crown? Her portrayal was so great, Prince Harry called her and asked her for money.”
Koy's jokes throughout the night provoked a number of different reactions in the room. Selena Gomez was spotted with her head in her hands as the comedian made jokes about the Barbie movie. Viewers also took to social media to comment on the opening monologue. Erik Anderson of Awards Watch wrote: “I thought the writers strike was over.”
2. Continued support for writers
In 2023, Hollywood's writers went on strike for several months, picketing outside the studios of major studios including Disney, Netflix and Paramount, over pay and work conditions in the streaming age. When presenting the award for best screenplay, Daniel Kaluuya, Hailee Steinfeld and Shameik Moore defended the importance of screenwriters and poked fun at studio executives.
Steinfeld started by saying “This year we were all reminded of the critical importance of writer to the creative process.” Kaluuya continued: “To demonstrate the importance of writers and writing, we asked that this segment be written not by writers, but by studio executives.”
The trio then performed an incomprehensible skit, suggesting that studio executives could never do the work of the professional writers.
3. No love from Tay Tay
Taylor Swift looked less than impressed when host and comedian Jo Koy took the opportunity to make a joke about the singer's relationship with American Footballer Travis Kelce.
“We came on after football double header,” Koy said, noting the Globes had immediately followed a match.
“Do you know the big difference between the Golden Globes and the NFL? On the Golden Globes we have fewer camera shots of Taylor Swift.” As the camera panned to Taylor, she took a long, long sip from her glass and showed little reaction.
Since the start of their relationship, Swift has frequently been seen cheering for boyfriend Kelce at Kansas City Chiefs games.
(The Globes continue to cut to Swift for the rest of the night.)
4. Don't mess with Michelle Yeoh
Well known for her athletic ability, mixed martial arts and stunt work, Michelle Yeoh is one actress you don't want to cross. Last year, Yeoh took home the Golden Globe for best musical or comedy actress for her performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once.
As the pianist began playing to signal it was time to wrap it up, she joked “Shut up, please. I can beat you up, and that's serious!” Presenting the award this year, Yeoh referred back to last year, commenting that she was “very chill”.
“I know last year I threatened to beat up the piano player if they tried to play me off my acceptance speech,” she recalled.
“While I won't do anything if you cut me off this year, I will kick your ass if you cut off whoever is about to win this award right now.” But plenty of winners were told to wrap up this year too. Emma Stone seemed to have only just started her speech before she said: “Oh my god, there's only like 18 seconds left.”
To be fair to the Globes – the tight timings meant they finished only a few minutes late this year – Hollywood awards ceremonies often run much longer.
5. ‘Thank you for answering my crazy, crazy emails'
Ayo Edebiri, who plays Sydney in The Bear, won the Globe for best actress in a musical or comedy TV series. In an unprepared speech, she recognised not just her agent and manager, but “all of my agents and managers assistants”.
“To the people who answer my emails – Y'all are real ones. Thank you for answering my crazy crazy emails!” she said. Earlier this week, Edebiri's co-star Jeremy Allen White, another winner at the Globes, launched his Calvin Klein campaign, causing a stir amongst fans online.
Speaking to press after accepting his award for best actor in a musical or comedy TV series, he said: “It's been a weird couple of days”.
6. Jennifer Lawrence being Jennifer Lawrence
In true Jennifer Lawrence fashion, the actress provided the 2024 Golden Globes with one of its funniest and most unforgettable gags of the evening. Lawrence was nominated in the best actress in a motion picture comedy or musical category for her performance in the R-rated comedy No Hard Feelings.
As the award was being announced, the Oscar winner mouthed “If I don't win, I'm leaving!” directly to the camera. Sure enough, she ended up losing to Poor Things star Emma Stone, but in the event, no one in the room looked happier than Lawrence.
Stone and Lawrence are close friends, and Lawrence stood up and cheered when Stone's name was announced as the winner.
7. Kylie and Timothee were loved up
Timothee Chalamet was nominated in the best actor – musical or comedy category for his performance as the title character in Wonka. He attended the ceremony with girlfriend Kylie Jenner. The pair have been dating for a few months, and although they didn't walk the red carpet together, they sat together inside.
The Wonka star posed on the Golden Globes red carpet on his own, but once inside both he and Jenner appeared more interested in each other than the awards ceremony itself. Chalamet eventually went on to lose to Paul Giamatti's performance in the Christmas comedy drama The Holdovers, but he might not know that yet.
It appears 2024 is just getting started for the celebrity couple.
— CutC by bbc.com
