Two of Winfrey’s BFFs offered some insight into her ‘historical’ and 'timely' acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille Award.
There is perhaps no better honoree for the 2018 Golden Globes’ Cecil B. DeMille Award -- extolled by the Hollywood Foreign Press as honoring "outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment” -- than Oprah Winfrey, and at Sunday’s awards show, Hollywood’s biggest stars will watch as the entertainment icon accepts the honor with a speech that will no doubt be impacted by the recent allegations of inequality, sexual harassment and assault that have flooded the entertainment industry.
Winfrey’s speech -- which follows 2017 honoree Meryl Streep’s powerful words about politics and the free press at last year’s ceremony -- will certainly be a moment to watch, and even some of her closest friends can’t wait to see her take the stage.
“That’s why I'm here,” raved A Wrinkle in Time director Ava DuVernay. “I'm gonna be with her at her table cheering her on.”
DuVernay admitted that she had already heard Queen O’s speech prior to Sunday’s ceremony, and noted, “It’s a tearjerker.”
“It made me emotional, because she really stands in this moment and embraces the moment, but also puts it into a historical context, as only she can” she added. “It’s gonna be terrific.”
Oprah’s longtime BFF, Gayle King, agreed with DuVernay’s sentiment that Winfrey’s speech might bring some tears to the room, adding that the media mogul had been working on her “very special” words “all weekend.”
“This is extra good,” King raved. “It’s amazing to me that she’s the first black woman to get this award, but Oprah’s had many firsts in her life. I just think it seems so poignant and so timely that, during this time, she’s the one that’s getting this award.”
However, King recalled with a laugh, Winfrey may have been working a little too hard!
“During rehearsal, they said, you know, your speech is a little long, can you cut it by three minutes?” she revealed. “Oprah likes to follow the rules, but I’ll be curious.”
See more from the 2018 Golden Globes in the video below and check out @etnow for more from the red carpet!
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