Ryan Murphy points to ‘hope and progress’ for LGBTQ community, ‘Fabelmans’ and ‘Inisherin’ win at Golden Globes

Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans” and Martin McDonagh’s “The Banshees of Inisherin” took top honors at Tuesday night’s Golden Globes while TV titan Ryan Murphy shared the spotlight during his lifetime achievement speech to celebrate inspirational actors in the LGBTQ community.

Murphy, the creator of hit shows “Glee” and “Pose,” highlighted his colleagues Billy Porter, MJ Rodriguez, Niecy Nash, Matt Bomer and Jeremy Pope as he accepted the fourth-ever Carol Burnett Award, which recognizes an artist’s contributions to the TV industry.

“I dedicate most of my lifetime achievement speech here tonight to these wonderful actors I’ve worked with to make a point of hope and progress,” said Murphy, 57, who is openly gay.

“When I was a young person at home in the ‘70s, watching ‘The Carol Burnett Show,’ I never, ever saw a person like me getting an award or even being a character on a TV show. It’s hard being an LGBTQ kid in America, in fact all over the world, then and now.”

The rousing speech at the Beverly Hilton in Southern California took place during the Golden Globe Awards’ return to television following a lack-of-diversity scandal. NBC dropped coverage of last year’s ceremony after the 2021 revelation that the event’s voting body, the Hollywood Foreign Press Associated, didn’t have any Black members.

The HPFA added 103 voters from different backgrounds for the 2023 show.

Golden Globes host Jerrod Carmichael didn’t waste any time Tuesday addressing the controversy, joking during his opening monologue, “I’ll tell you why I’m here. I’m here ‘cause I’m Black.”

“One minute, you’re making mint tea at home, the next you’re invited to be the Black face of an embattled white organization,” Carmichael, 35, deadpanned. “Life really comes at you fast.”

Spielberg won best drama film and best director for his semi-autobiographical “The Fabelmans.” The win for best drama film came in a category also featuring big-budget blockbusters “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Avatar: The Way of Water.”

Best musical or comedy film went to “The Banshees of Inisherin,” a dark dive into a damaged friendship, which led all movies with eight nominations. Star Colin Farrell also won best actor in a musical or comedy film.

Malaysian-born Michelle Yeoh reflected on her journey to Hollywood after winning best actress in a musical or comedy film for the multiverse adventure “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” She also earned a laugh by saying “shut up, please,” when music began to play her off.

“It’s been an amazing journey, an incredible fight, to be here today, but I think it’s been worth it,” Yeoh, 60, said. “I remember when I first came to Hollywood. It was a dream come true until I got here, because look at this face. I came here and was told, ‘You’re a minority.’ I’m like, ‘No, that’s not possible.’”

Ke Huy Quan won best supporting actor for his “Everything Everywhere All at Once” performance. Quan, who rose to fame as a child star in Spielberg’s “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” recently returned to acting following a lengthy hiatus.

“I was raised to never forget where I came from and to always remember who gave me my first opportunity,” Quan, 51, said. “I am so happy to see Steven Spielberg here tonight.”

ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” led all shows with five nominations. The sitcom about Philadelphia teachers won best musical or comedy series, while Quinta Brunson won best actress in a musical or comedy series and Tyler James Williams received best supporting actor.

HBO’s “Game of Thrones” prequel “House of the Dragon” was named best drama series.

Eddie Murphy received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for his achievements in the movie industry. He punctuated his speech with a reference to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars.

“There’s a blueprint, and I’ve followed it my whole career,” Murphy said. “It’s very simple. Just do these three things: Pay your taxes, mind your business and keep Will Smith’s wife’s name [out of your] mouth!”

Another stirring speech came from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who expressed optimism in his country’s fight against Russia in a prerecorded video.

“The war in Ukraine is not over yet, but the tide is turning, and it is already clear who will win,” Zelenskyy said, drawing cheers from the audience.

Austin Butler won best actor in a drama film for his portrayal of the titular King of Rock and Roll in “Elvis”; Cate Blanchett took home best actress in a drama film for “Tár”; Zendaya received best actress in a drama series for the teen-focused “Euphoria”; and Kevin Costner was named best actor in a drama series for “Yellowstone.”

Tuesday’s ceremony marked the first Globes hosting gig for Carmichael, who won an Emmy for the stand-up special “Rothaniel” and starred on NBC’s “The Carmichael Show.”

Carmichael earned a few groans Tuesday when he joked about exchanging the three Globes trophies Tom Cruise returned amid the diversity scandal for “the safe return of Shelly Miscavige,” the wife of Scientology leader David Miscavige who disappeared from the public eye in 2007.