Just in case you took a bathroom break, Oprah Winfrey seriously brought the house down as the recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2018 Golden Globes. The honorary award—given to a person who’s made outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry (Oprah, duh)—was tearfully introduced by Reese Witherspoon, her costar in the upcoming film A Wrinkle in Time. (“Oprah’s hugs could end wars, solve world peace,” she joked.)
From there, Oprah took the stage, giving a moving acceptance speech that began with her flashing back to the moment she watched Sidney Poitier win a Golden Globe in 1964 and how empowering it felt to her as a little girl. “It is not lost on me that, at this moment, there is some little girl watching as I become the first black woman to be given the same award. It is an honor and it is a privilege to share the evening with all of them.”
You could hear a pin drop in the room as the goddess of TV and film (and books and basically anything else she lends her name to) went on to deliver an inspirational and uplifting address to the A-list crowd. She touted the power of free speech, the tenacious work of the press and the courage of women calling out sexual harassers. “I want to say I value the press more than ever before as we try to navigate these complicated times. Which brings me to this: What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have. I’m especially proud and inspired by all the women who felt strong enough and empowered enough to speak up and share their personal stories.”
Watch the speech in its entirety above and bow down to our very own real-life queen.
