What Did Jean Smart Rant About on the Red Carpet at the Golden Globes?

Jean Smart’s Golden Globes Speech and Red Carpet Remarks

Jean Smart made a memorable appearance at the Golden Globes, where she won the award for Best Female Actor in a TV Musical or Comedy. Her acceptance speech was light-hearted, but it also touched on serious topics that she had previously addressed on the red carpet.

Smart mentioned that she had given a "rant on the red carpet" earlier in the evening, but she didn’t go into details during her speech. Instead, she focused on expressing gratitude and urging people to do the right thing.

"There’s just a lot that could be said tonight," Smart said in her speech. "I said my rant on the red carpet, so I won’t do it here, but thank you. Let’s all do the right thing. I think everybody in their hearts knows what the right thing is to do, so let’s do the right thing."

Her comments on the red carpet hinted at her concerns about the current political climate in the United States. She spoke with Entertainment Tonight about the upcoming fifth season of her HBO comedy Hacks, which she described as going "good." However, she admitted that it was difficult to focus on the show’s production while the country faced significant challenges.

"Everything is a little bit overshadowed with everything that’s going on in our country," Smart said. "I feel like we’re kind of at a turning point in our country, and I hope people can keep their heads, because I think that’s actually going to be the hardest thing, to keep our heads. But that’s going to take a lot of courage and a lot of restraint, but I think that’s important."

Smart also expressed concern about certain entities that may encourage people to fight back, calling it "very concerning." She acknowledged that some people might find it annoying when actors use their platform to discuss politics, but she emphasized that she was speaking as a citizen and a mother rather than an actress.

"I know there are people who find it annoying when actors take opportunities like this to talk about social and political things, but I’m not here right now as an actress," Smart said. "I’m just speaking as a citizen and a mom and I hope people understand that."

In another red carpet interview, Smart shared her fears for the country’s future. She told Variety that she is not as optimistic about the world as she once was.

"I’m not as optimistic about things these days, about the world these days," she said. "But I just hope the people realize how important what’s going on is right now. Really, this is a moment of reckoning in this country. And I just hope that people do the right thing, and I think almost everybody knows in their hearts what’s the right thing."

She added that she doesn’t believe her opinion "matters more than anybody’s."

"That’s not at all what I’m doing," she continued. "I feel like if you feel strongly about something, and you have the chance to share your feelings or encourage people or cheer somebody on, you should do it."

Smart beat out several other talented actresses, including Kristen Bell for Nobody Wants This, Ayo Edebiri for The Bear, Selena Gomez for Only Murders in the Building, Natasha Lyonne for Poker Face, and Jenna Ortega for Wednesday.

"What can I say? I’m a greedy bitch," Smart began her acceptance speech, referring to this being her third time winning the award for Hacks. "I am absolutely thrilled to be here. I’m one of the luckiest people in this, not this room, this entire business, and it does not go unappreciated."

Her remarks were part of a broader conversation about the role of celebrities in addressing political issues. Other Golden Globe attendees, such as Mark Ruffalo and Wanda Sykes, also used the event to speak out on important social issues.

Sykes, for example, wore a pin reading "Be Good" as a tribute to Renee Macklin Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE agent. Others wore "ICE Out" pins, showing support for the campaign organized by the American Civil Liberties Union.

"Of course, this is for the mother who was murdered by an ICE agent, and it’s really sad," Sykes told Variety before the ceremony. "I know people are out marching and all today, and we need to speak up. We need to be out there and shut this rogue government down, because it’s just awful what they’re doing to people."