Jerrod Carmichael skewered the Golden Globes in his opening monologue as host, calling out the awards show’s racial controversies, such as not having any Black members within the Hollywood Foreign Press.
After introducing the show, the comedian said, according to Rolling Stone, “I’ll tell you why I’m here. I’m here ’cause I’m Black.”
“This show, the Golden Globe Awards, did not air last year because the Hollywood Foreign Press Association–which I won’t say they were a racist organization–but they didn’t have a single Black member till George Floyd died, so do with that information what you will.”
He also talked about his decision to host the show by detailing a conversation he had with his friend Avery. When Avery asked him how much he would make as a host, Carmichael said he responded with “$500,000,” leading Avery to say, “Boy, if you don’t put on a good suit and take them white people money.”
He also joked about how current HFPA President Helen Hoehne wanted to meet with him several times to discuss the new changes being made to the organization. Carmichael joked, “I took this job assuming that they hadn’t changed at all.”
“I heard they got six new Black members. Congrats to them, whatever. Sure,” he said. “That’s not why I’m here. I’m here, truly, because of all of you–I look out into this room and I see a lot of talented people–and regardless of whatever the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s past may be, this is an evening where we get to celebrate. And I think this industry deserves evenings like this.”
The night did prove to be a successful one for diverse talent, with Angela Bassett winning in the supporting actress category for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Abbott Elementary‘s Quinta Brunson winning in the best actress for comedic television. The show also won best comedy and Tyler James Williams won for best supporting actor in a comedy series.
Other notable wins include Everything Everywhere All At Once‘s Ke Huy Quan and Michelle Yeoh winning awards–Quan for best supporting actor in a musical or comedy film and Yeoh for best actress in a musical or comedy film. The musical team of RRR, led by M. M. Keeravaani, won for best original song, and Zendaya won in the dramatic television category for best actress for Euphoria. Eddie Murphy earned the Cecil B. DeMille Award for his film and television career.
