The 2021 Golden Globe Awards are fast-approaching.
While it would appear no event on the awards season calendar could ever eclipse the disaster that was the 2017 Oscars and that Moonlight-versus-La-La-Land bungle, a little part of us as journalists and spectators still pray. Traditionally speaking, and in a COVID-free world, the Golden Globes – with its open bar and social dinner setting – has always been the rowdier, fancy-free sister to the pompous Academy Awards; a night where the biggest names in film can unpin their hairsprayed-stiff top knots and dance into the evening at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. (Remember dancing?)
Come 8pm EST on February 28 – and in lieu of honoring the wrong film with the wrong accolade – comedy legends Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will return as hosts of the Golden Globe Awards for the fourth time (and we can probably count on some candid political pontificating surrounding Trump and questioning Emily In Paris‘ nomination.)
Like a lot of things this year, awards season has been delayed due to the pandemic. The Golden Globe Awards, now taking place in February instead of January, will be followed by the Critics Choice Awards on March 7, the Screen Actors Guild Awards on April 4, the BAFTAs on April 11 and the Academy Awards on April 25. The Globes will still take place inside the Beverly Hilton Hotel but with the virus still circulating throughout California, it is widely expected to be a partially virtual show.
Yes, chances are we’re in for a more somber affair. With this in mind, let’s revisit some of the most scandalous Golden Globe moments, because where there’s smoke (read: unlimited alcohol), there’s always a little bit of (movie star grade) fire.
Seth Meyers Calls Out Kevin Spacey
A couple of months after director, Ridley Scott, spectacularly replaced the disgraced Kevin Spacey with the late Christopher Plummer in All The Money In The World, Golden Globes host Seth Meyers had his first victim. Well, next to Harvey Weinstein of course. “Good evening ladies and remaining gentlemen,” Meyers began his 2018 opening monologue. “It’s 2018 and marijuana is finally allowed and sexual harassment finally isn’t,” he began. They’re going to do another season of House of Cards. Is Christopher Plummer available for that, too? I hope he can do a Southern accent because Kevin Spacey sure couldn’t.”
Actresses Wear Black In Protest Against Sexual Harassment
The celebrity soapbox (read: the acceptance speech) is always at its most vocal come Awards Season. But in the wake of the atrocious behavior of Harvey Weinstein – a film mogul who had worked with decades of Globe attendees – female actresses wore black to the 2018 awards to protest sexual harassment. In doing so, they raised awareness for the Time’s Up initiative, a historical movement which sought to fight sexual misconduct in Hollywood and beyond. It was supported by the Me Too movement which encouraged victims to share their stories.
Oprah Gives The Speech Of The Century
That same year, addressing a sea of black dresses, Oprah received the Cecil B. de Millie Award and with it came the most vital address. “I want all the girls watching here to know that a new day is on the horizon,” said Oprah. “And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women – many of whom are in this room tonight – and some pretty phenomenal men fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders that take us to time where nobody ever has to say ‘Me Too’ again.” Watch the moment below.
The Golden Globes Are Canceled
The Hollywood Foreign Press was forced to cancel the Globes after members of the Screen Actors Guild (the union by which most actors are represented) threatened to boycott the event during the Writers Guild strike of 2008. The protests were so powerful that the award organizers were concerned there would be an empty red carpet and held a press conference announcing the winners instead.
Renee Zellweger Went To The Bathroom And Missed Her Award
It was 2001 and a delightfully bumbling Hugh Grant announced his future Bridget Jones co-star, Renee Zellweger, had won the Best Actress Golden Globe for her film ,Nurse Betty. But Zellweger was nowhere to be seen, leaving Grant to awkwardly ask, “Is she under the table? Where is she? What do we do?” As he began to accept the award on her behalf, a flustered Zellweger arrived on the stage explaining she was in the bathroom because she had lipstick on her teeth. Bless.
Tiny Fey and Amy Poehler Take On Leonardo DiCaprio
“Like a supermodel’s vagina, let’s all give a warm welcome Leonardo DiCaprio,” says Tiny Fey to a shocked auditorium in 2014. The pair also had a go at George Clooney. “Gravity is nominated for Best Film. It’s the story of how George Clooney would rather float away into space and die than spend one more minute with a woman his own age.” Eek. With so much fodder to joke around with in 2021, we cannot wait for Fey and Pohler’s opening monologue.
Ricky Gervais’s Opening Monologue Falls Flat. And It’s Awkward
After hosting the Globes in 2010, the British comedian was asked to come back the following year. Watching the footage below, it would appear even Gervais knew after the first few gags that things weren’t going well. And they kind of got worse as he went after Johnny Depp, Charlie Sheen, Angelina Jolie, and a famous Scientologist.
Jeremy Renner Compliments Jennifer Lopez’s “Globes”
This was in 2015 and thankfully the Limitless singer didn’t seem too fazed. In 2021 though, does Jeremy Renner’s call fly? Not really…
Elizabeth Taylor Must Have Been Dead-Set Drunk
Oh dear. In 2001, the legendary Elizabeth Taylor was tasked with announcing one of the biggest gongs of the night: Best Picture in the drama category. But she’d seemingly had too many wines and began to open the envelope to announce the winners without first announcing the nominees. Watch the moment below. (And surprisingly Gladiator beat out Erin Brockovich).
Jack Nicholson Was High
He admitted it later. But can you tell?
The Chemistry Between Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper Is Palpable
Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga took to the stage to perform their Oscar-winning track, “Shallow” – the true star of their 2018 film, A Star Is Born. Performed so powerfully by both Cooper and Gaga, audiences across the world clung to the fantasy that this chemistry might just spill over into real life. (The popstar had indeed just split from her fiancé, Christian Carino, the week prior, leaving just one object: Irina Shayk in the front row.)
The 2021 Golden Globes will stream at 8pm EST on February 28. GRAZIA will have up-to-the-minute coverage on winners, gowns spotted within living rooms and imminent political discourse during acceptance speeches.
