by Lexi Kimmel ‘21

On January 5, 2020 the 77th annual Golden Globes celebrity awards show aired. This year’s show served as a platform for many up and coming actors/actresses to debut, but it also served as a platform for issue awareness. Despite discouragement from the host Ricky Gervais to mention politics, many stars such as Joaquin Phoenix, Patricia Arquette, and Ramy Youssef used their acceptance speeches to address real-world issues. Debates have since sparked about whether or not political agendas should be pushed at awards shows.

In a world with seven and a half billion people, it is almost impossible to have your voice heard. When it comes time to talk about serious matters, many people ignore protesters, turn off the news, and bury their heads in the sand. Nowadays, the most effective way to get your voice heard is to talk to the public anywhere and anytime you can, like on an internationally aired awards show averaging around 18.3 million viewers. The issues facing the world right now are stressful and discussing them may not be pleasant, but the fear these discussions induce can create change. It is better to have a society that is afraid and aware than to have one that is content and ignorant.