The 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards took place on Sunday, Jan. 8, and prompted days of discussion in the media. Actress Meryl Streep was presented with the Cecile B. DeMille Award for her contributions to the entertainment industry. She turned her acceptance speech into a platform in which she expressed her feelings on Trump.
Streep used her influence as a revered actress to deliver a message about what the victory of President-elect Donald Trump means for American society. Trump’s actions during his presidential campaign impacted Streep, specifically the instance in which Trump mocked a disabled reporter.
“It kind of broke my heart when I saw it and I still can’t get it out my head,” she said about Trump’s behavior.
His impression of disabled New York Times reporter Serge F. Kovaleski at a rally in South Carolina is an instance often cited by his opponents. Trump has repeatedly claimed that his intention was never to mock or offend Kovaleski.
“People keep saying I intended to mock the reporter’s disability, as if Meryl Streep and the others could read my mind, and I did no such thing,” said Trump in a New York Times interview.
Hillary flunky who lost big. For the 100th time, I never "mocked" a disabled reporter (would never do that) but simply showed him…….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2017
Regardless of his intention, his jerking and incomprehensible babble were perceived by many people to be mocking Kovaleski for his disability.
Those against his actions claim that Trump should not be in a position where he has to deny that he intended to mock Kovaleski because his actions should not have given off such an impression in the first place.
As a successful man with considerable influence, even before becoming President-elect, Trump’s actions, especially when broadcasted, have an impact on the general public.
“When the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose,” Streep said.
Many celebrities have used their influence to sway political opinion in the past, but Streep’s approach was slightly different as she spoke up after the election was over, using her status and a wide-reaching platform to express her belief that the animosity between fellow Americans in this election incited by the President-elect is a reality that needs to be remedied.
Trump, true to his nature, shared his response in the form of tweets, bashing the actress for her statements and denying the allegations of mockery.
Meryl Streep, one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood, doesn't know me but attacked last night at the Golden Globes. She is a…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2017
Trump also responded in a telephone interview with the New York times saying he was not surprised that he’d been denounced by “liberal movie people.”
"groveling" when he totally changed a 16 year old story that he had written in order to make me look bad. Just more very dishonest media!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2017
Despite the controversy over the speech and Trump’s actions in regard to Kovaleski, Trump displayed confidence in that the American people stood by him and would show their support at his inauguration, Hollywood actors included.
“We are going to have an unbelievable, perhaps record-setting turnout at the inauguration, and there will be plenty of movie and entertainment stars,” said Trump.
