Many awards were handed out, as expected, at the 70th annual Golden Globes—but it was Jodie Foster's speech that had people talking, as she thanked her lesbian ex-partner at the Jan. 13 event.
Foster was the recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award. During her acceptance speech, she thanked her ex-partner and co-parent, Cydney Bernard. (They have two sons.)
She added that she has lived virtually her entire life in the public eye, yet still wanted to keep some things private. According to the Washington Post, she said, "Someday, in the future, people will look back and remember how beautiful this was. I have given everything up there, from the time that was I was 3 years old. … There is no way I could ever stand here without acknowledging one of the deepest loves of my life: my heroic co-parent, my ex-partner in love but righteous soul sister in life, my confessor, ski buddy, consigliere, most beloved BFF of 20 years, Cydney Bernard. Thank you, Cyd."
The Internet exploded in response to Foster's speech. Among those who talked was Kate Kendell, who heads the National Center for Lesbian Rights. "Well regardless of the articulate nature of this moment for Jodie, let me just say, you go girl!," Kendell posted. "It's about fucking time...we got your back babe." However, she also said that she'd love to find a new best friend for Foster beside Mel Gibson, who was seated at Foster's table.
As for awards, Ben Affleck received some redemption from his Oscar snub by winning for Best Director for the film Argo, triumphing over names such as Ang Lee (Life of Pi), Kathryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty), Quentin Tarentino (Django Unchained) and Steven Spielberg (Lincoln). In addition, Argo won for Best Motion Picture: Drama. Les Miserables won for Best Motion Picture: Comedy or Musical.
Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty) and Daniel-Day Lewis (Lincoln) won lead acting awards for their roles in the categories of motion picture (drama), while Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook) and Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables) won Best Performances in a Motion Picture: Comedy or Musical. In addition, a surprised Adele won for best original song for "Skyfall," the title song of the James Bond movie; she bested such singers as Keith Urban and Taylor Swift.
One speaker who surprised all was former President Bill Clinton, who introduced the movie Lincoln. Co-hoster Amy Poehler subsequently referred to him as "Hillary Clinton's husband."
In the world of television, Showtime's Homeland (Best Television Series: Drama) and HBO's Girls (Best Television Series: Comedy or Musical) were the top winners. Don Cheadle was a surprise acting winner for the comedy House of Lies, edging, among others, out actor Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory). Modern Family had three nods (including those for Sofia Vergara and Eric Stonestreet), but came up empty. (For the full list of winners, see www.goldenglobes.org/2012/12/nominations-2013.)
Tina Fey and Poehler co-hosted the event, marking the first time two women shared the job. They generally received good reviews.
Following are excerpts from her comments on TV Jan. 13, according to the Washington Post:
"There's not gonna be a big coming-out speech tonight, because I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago, back in the Stone Age, in those very quaint days when perhaps a young girl would open up to trusted friends and family and coworkers and then gradually, proudly, to everyone who knew her, to everyone she actually met. But now apparently I'm told that every celebrity is expected to honor the details of their private life with a press conference, a fragrance and a prime-time reality show. And, you know, you guys might be surprised, but I am not Honey Boo Boo Child. ... Some day, in the future, people will look back and remember how beautiful this was. I have given everything up there, from the time that was I was 3 years old. … There is no way I could ever stand here without acknowledging one of the deepest loves of my life: my heroic co-parent, my ex-partner in love but righteous soul sister in life, my confessor, ski buddy, consigliere, most beloved BFF of 20 years, Cydney Bernard. Thank you, Cyd."
—Andrew Davis and Tracy Baim
