The 10 Most Unforgettable Golden Globes Moments Ever

While the Oscars are known as Hollywood’s elegant, high-class ceremony, the Golden Globes are the rowdier younger sibling, where all the best stories happen. From weird, wacky, and downright legendary one-liners to wild outfits and inopportune bathroom breaks, the Golden Globes have long been a delightful menagerie of hot messes and viral moments, even before social media was a thing. 

Here are the top Golden Globe moments that will forever live in infamy—albeit not all for the right reasons. 

10. The Grey’s Anatomy Snafu That Made Headlines

In 2007, drama from Grey’s Anatomy spilled off-screen and into the headlines—and it was messier than all the Real Housewives seasons combined. During an unforgettable red-carpet interview, Isaiah Washington, who played Dr. Preston Burke, reignited controversy with his co-star T.R. Knight (aka Dr. George O’Malley). The year before, rumors swirled that Washington had used a homophobic slur toward Knight on set while speaking to Patrick “McDreamy” Dempsey, creating major tension between the actors (and rightly so).

Fast forward to the Golden Globes, where Washington was asked about the alleged incident. Instead of sidestepping the topic, he shocked everyone by flat-out denying it in a way that made things much worse, including repeating the slur on camera. 

Cue the collective gasp heard around Hollywood. The backlash was instant, with fans and industry insiders calling him out. This was a big deal, before terms like “accountability” and “cancel culture” entered the lexicon. The incident cemented Washington’s departure from the show later that year.

9. Jodie Foster Peeking Her Head Out of the Closet

At the 2013 Golden Globes, Jodie Foster delivered one of Hollywood’s most memorable, cryptic, and talked-about acceptance speeches. While honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement, the legendary actress seemed to flirt with the idea of “coming out”—but not in the way anyone expected.

“I guess I have a sudden urge to say something that I’ve never really been able to air in public. A declaration that I’m a little nervous about…” she began, joking. Cue everyone holding their breath. Then came the twist: “…I’m single.” Foster then pivoted to a more heartfelt moment, acknowledging her longtime partner and co-parent, Cydney Bernard, and expressing gratitude for her “modern family.”

Think of it as the 2013 version of “soft launching” your relationship status to the world— way more dramatic and with much higher stakes. (It was a different time when celebs weren’t sharing every moment on social media.) 

8. The Years the Golden Globes Weren’t Aired

The Golden Globes went ghost mode for two years—once in 2008 and again in 2022.

The 2008 show was canceled due to the Writers Guild of America strike. Writers protested over fair pay and working conditions, and the Globes couldn’t go on without scripts or writers. Instead, they held a little press conference where winners were announced, but it didn’t have quite the same vibe.

Then in 2022, after criticism about diversity and ethics within the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the show took a step back. Big names like Tom Cruise and Scarlett Johansson spoke out, and NBC pulled the broadcast entirely. The ceremony happened privately but with no red carpet or stars in sight.

7. Jack Nicholson’s Memorable or Unmemorable Evening

In 1976, Jack Nicholson accepted his award for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in a state that can only be described as…festive. Even by Nicholson’s standards, let’s just say he was acting slightly more extra than usual. In true Nicholson fashion, he delivered his speech with his signature wild energy and a few slurred words, but he somehow pulled it off, only adding to the mystique and charm of the legendary actor. After all, it’s Jack Nicholson—who will stop him?

6. Tina Fey & Amy Poehler Go NC-17

When Tina Fey and Amy Poehler first hosted the Golden Globes, they turned the ceremony into a roast-meets-happy-hour extravaganza, and we loved every second. Their sharp, expletive-laden jokes had the A-listers laughing (and low-key sweating). The duo sipped cocktails on stage, joked about everyone being “drunk right now,” and gave the Globes the exact level of chaos it deserved. Think of Fey and Poehler as your two favorite drunk aunts who spill the tea, roast the family, and somehow make everyone love them for it.

5. Sandra Bullock’s Bittersweet Shout-Out

In 2010, Sandra Bullock’s Golden Globe win for The Blind Side was everything—heartfelt, tearful, and deserved. But what made the moment a little extra cringe in hindsight? Her sweet shout-out to then-husband Jesse James. “I love you, you’re so hot,” she gushed. Fast forward a few weeks, and the world was rocked by the scandal of her husband’s cheating ways (on Sandra Bullock? THE NERVE!). Bullock’s graceful handling of the drama was legendary—she took the high road and emerged stronger than ever.

4. Seth Meyers Roasts Harvey Weinstein

When Seth Meyers hosted the 2018 Golden Globes, he didn’t hold back, addressing the elephant in the room: “Harvey Weinstein isn’t here tonight… because I heard rumors he’s difficult to work with.” The audience erupted in nervous laughter, followed quickly by cheers. It was the perfect mix of biting humor and well-earned takedown, proving that Hollywood was ready to confront its dark side—starting with one unforgettable mic drop.

3. Claire Danes Thanks Her Mom 17 Years Later

When 15-year-old Claire Danes won her first Golden Globe in 1995 for My So-Called Life, she was so overwhelmed she forgot to thank one very important person: her mom, Carla. Fast forward to 2012, when Danes won again for Homeland and finally got her chance to make it right. This time, she got emotional as she dedicated part of her speech to her mom, saying she had “shown her how to do everything.” It was the sweetest full-circle moment and one of the most touching in Golden Globes history.

2. Renée Zellweger’s Bathroom Break

At the 2001 Golden Globes, Renée Zellweger experienced every award show nightmare. After winning Best Actress for her role in Nurse Betty, she was nowhere to be found when her name was called. Why? She was in the bathroom! 

As the audience erupted in applause and mild confusion, presenter Hugh Grant tried to stall, only to start laughing when Zellweger finally emerged, looking flustered but fabulous. She dashed to the stage, clutching a tissue (priorities!), and giggled through a charmingly awkward acceptance speech. “I had lipstick on my teeth,” she explained, making the moment instantly iconic with her relatable queen energy. 

1. Ricky Gervais Roasts Everybody

When Ricky Gervais hosted the Golden Globes in 2010, it was a roast fest that had everyone talking. The British comedian wasn’t there to play nice—he was there to skewer the Hollywood elite. From quips about Johnny Depp’s “madly” expensive paycheck and jokes about Pirates of the Caribbean being just an excuse for Depp to “act like a pirate” (we all saw how that turned out…) to poking fun at Robert Pattinson’s heartthrob status, Gervais didn’t hold back. He even digs at Mel Gibson’s infamous past (before Gibson’s comeback). But the ultimate moment? His cheeky comment about Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s “perfect” relationship, calling them out for being too “good-looking” (hindsight is 20/20).

Gervais went where no host had gone before. Although he hasn’t hosted the show in a while—he’s long overdue for a comeback— his time as the MC remains the most iconic Golden Globe moment ever.