Meryl Streep won big when she was awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes. But while the 30-time Golden Globes nominee is known for her legendary acting, it was her acceptance speech that took centre stage Sunday night.
As she collected her career-spanning award for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment, Streep drew a line under the ‘performance’ of president-elect Donald Trump, who openly mocked a disabled reporter at a rally as he campaigned for President of the United States.
Speaking of the importance of empathy in today’s world, she said:
There was nothing good about it, but it did its job. It kind of broke my heart when I saw it, and I still can’t get it out my head because it wasn’t in a movie, it was in real life. That instinct to humiliate when it’s modeled by someone in a public platform, it filters down into everyone’s life because it gives permission for others to do the same.
Disrespect invites disrespect. Violence incites violence. When the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose.
Her speech highlighted the nation’s (more over, the world’s) disbelief of the moment Trump mocked Serge Kovaleski, a Pulitzer prize-winning New York Times reporter, who is also disabled.
Trump’s act, something that polls suggest is viewed as his worst offense, has been referenced as one that should have ended his campaign.
Continuing on, Streep then highlighted the importance of the press: “We need the principled press to hold power to account, to call them on the carpet for every outrage. That’s why our Founders enshrined the press and its freedoms in our Constitution.”
Immediately following Streep’s powerful speech, Hollywood stars such as Ellen DeGeneres, Anna Kendrick, and John Legend posted praise for the veteran actor.
The #MerylStreep hashtag soon began trending on Twitter, with both ends of the political spectrum having their say.
One person yet to voice their opinion, however, is the outspoken president-elect himself.
Shortly after Streep’s speech, Trump took to Twitter to slam what he has repeatedly called the ‘dishonest media’ for not reporting on his promised Mexican border wall in a way that pleases him.
Twitter users responded to Trump’s Sunday night tweet by referencing Streep’s jabs:
Watch Meryl’s full speech here:
She ended her speech by advising all of us to do what Carrie fisher once advised her: “Take your broken heart, make it into art.”
Thank you, Meryl.
