Like many Hollywood awards shows, the Golden Globes make headlines beyond the nominees: for red carpet statements, impassioned speeches and jokes made at the expensive of the star-studded audience.

In recent years, the event, which is conducted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), has become used increasingly as a platform for feminist discourse. 

Following the launch of the Time’s Up movement in January 2018, the awards ceremony (which was only days later), saw A-listers adopt an all-black dress code, in support of those who have experienced sexual harassment in the industry.

Several celebrities brought influential activists as their guests for the occasion, including Michelle Williams, who was accompanied by #MeToo founder Tarana Burke.

That same year, Natalie Portman called out the all-male nominees in the Best Director category while presenting the award, a moment that has gone down in history.

In 2019, Regina King won the award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the Barry Jenkins-directed romantic drama If Beale Street Could Talk.

While accepting her accolade, King made a pledge to champion gender equality in all her future projects.

“I’m going to use my platform right now to say in the next two years, everything that I produce — I’m making a vow and it’s going to be tough — to make sure that everything that I produce is 50 per cent women,” she said.

Her affirmation prompted high praise from the audience, with stars including Jessica Chastain rising from their seats in rapturous applause.

Glenn Close’s Best Actress acceptance speech sparked a similarly emotive reaction as the seven-time Oscar nominee articulated the importance of women striving to “find personal fulfilment” in their lives.

“Women, we’re nurturers, that’s what’s expected of us,” she said tearfully.

“We have our children. We have our husbands if we’re lucky enough, and our partners, whoever. But we have to find personal fulfilment!”

Click through the gallery above to read about 14 of the best feminists moments at the prestigious awards ceremony.

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