Awards Season
10 Golden Globes Moments That Altered My Brain Chemistry

Not me sobbing at my TV.

by Ani Bundel
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The 2023 Golden Globes were filled with emotional moments... when celebs weren’t too busy making fans laugh or cringe, that is. Here are 10 times the show felt surprisingly pure.

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Ke Huy Quan’s Comeback

Quan’s career began in 1985’s Indiana Jones & The Temple of Doom. It took nearly 40 years before he made it again in Hollywood as an adult in Everything Everywhere All At Once, and his gratitude and tearful acceptance speech set the tone for the evening.

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Abbott Elementary’s Victories

Considering how hard AE’s creator and star Quinta Brunson worked to get here, the numerous trips to the podium got more emotional each time.

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Angela Bassett’s Marvel-ous Win

Angela Bassett’s win for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was as sweet as it was surprising, considering it’s Marvel’s first Globes award. Her tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman made it all the more special.

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Jeremy Allen White’s Vocab

Everyone loves Jeremy Allen White’s dirtbag character in The Bear. However, his passionate speech and love for his family, full of swear words and hasty TV edits, had everyone’s hearts swelling for the real-life actor.

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Jennifer Coolidge’s Everything

Coolidge spent years in relative obscurity. When she won for her turn as Tanya in The White Lotus, her speech addressed how she’s risen to fame later in life, and it was both kooky and endearing.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Cameo

Former actor turned Ukranian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a cameo at the Golden Globes, reminding people of his country’s predicament and promising there would be no WWIII. It a moment of perspective and heartbreak for all watching.

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Michelle Yeoh Reclaiming Her Time

It took almost 60 years for Michelle Yeoh to be given her flowers in Hollywood. When you wait over half a century to finally receive this kind of recognition, no one plays you off, and Michelle’s shushing the music was a good reminder why.

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Colin Farrell’s Gallantry

During the ceremony, Colin Farrell won his own Globe for The Banshees of Inisherin. But he’d already won everyone’s hearts for graciously using his seat by the steps to help winners so they didn’t fall on their way up to accept their hardware.

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Mike White’s Revenge

The White Lotus’ creator is famously outspoken, and he called out people in the room who originally passed on his show. But the jokes were softened by his sheer gratitude for what he’s accomplished and the people who help get him there.

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Ryan Murphy’s Speech

Murphy received the Carol Burnett Award and took full advantage of his eight-minute speaking time to address the LGBTQ+ youth at home watching, citing the bravery of LGBTQ+ and trans actors in a speech that was a love letter to those communities.

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The 80th Golden Globes are streaming on Peacock.

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