#MeToo movement sweeps the Golden Globe Awards

The Golden GlobeAwards are meant to honour the best in American film and television but what really took centre stage thisyear was #MeToo.

Stars from Emma Stone toMerylStreeparrived dressed head-to-toe in black to show solidarity forthe women who have been harassed and assaulted; in fact, not a single star could be seen wearing colour.Many men arrived wearing Time's Up pins.

"It's one step at a time. Every generation has to fight for equality and keep trying to fight for freedom forever. It's now Emma's turn and her generation," said tennis star and veteran women's rights advocate Billie Jean King, one of several activists accompanying stars on the red carpet. She was standing alongside actress Emma Stone. "It's great we're here in solidarity wearing black to really talk about protecting men and women who have been silenced by sexual harassment and sexual violence. It's got to stop, and it's got to stop right now, and we have to help each other."

"It's so incredible to look around to see everyone in solidarity, ready to really address the issues that exist in our industry and across all industries," said actress AmericaFerrera. "It's our job right now. The time is now for us to do the work that will make women and all people more safe and more equal in their workplaces and in their lives."

"I'm here to be one of the women in black talking about how time is up on the imbalance of power in society. Time is up on our silence," said actress Kerry Washington, who added thatthe movement aims to protect anyone who feels marginalized in the workplace and in society. She also said that a newly created legal defence fund has already raised over $15 million. "We're committed to making a change, not just in our industry but in every industry."

Actress Sarah Jessica Parker, who has been active in the Hollywood movement from its early days, also weighed in. "It's for all of us, whether we've been involved for weeks or days to see this sort of robust, enthusiastic stand of solidarity by so many," she said. "And I think it shows that not only is the conversation timely, but that the basic idea the ideaof equality and parity and safe work environments arereally not controversial. We just have to get the work done."

The #MeToodiscussion continued on the stage, with host Seth Meyers launching the ceremony with a searing monologue that focused on sexual harassment, and an unforgettable Cecil B. DeMille Awardspeech by TV mogul Oprah Winfrey.

Several of this year's winners, among them Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, and The Handmaid's Tale star Elisabeth Moss, also addressed the issue in their acceptance speeches.

In advance of the ceremony,Dern, Amy Poehler, Susan Sarandon,MerylStreep, Emma Stone, Emma Watson, Michelle Williams and Shailene Woodley announced that they would each be accompanied by activists in a range of fields as they walk the red carpet.

The move waslinked to Time's Up, a growing movement by Hollywood women to put an end to sexual harassment and assault in their industry and to shine a light on women marginalized because of class, gender orientation, sexuality, country of origin or race.

"This past year was a powerful one in the fight for gender equity and against sexual violence against women from the Women's March to the re-emergence of 'me too' as a viral hashtag that brought more than ten years of survivor-centered work to the mainstream," said the activists in a jointstatement.

"There is still much work to do, and many hands required to do it. We want to encourage all women- from those who live in the shadows to those who live in the spotlight, from all walks of life, and across generations,to continue to step forward and know that they will be supported when they do."

Among the activists were #metoo founder Tarana Burke, senior director of Girls for Gender Equality, who joined Michelle Williams, nominated for her role in "All the Money in the World."

Others included Marai Larasi, head of a British organization that aims to end violence against black and minority women; Rosa Celemente, a community organizer who works with political prisoners and ran as theGreen Party vice-presidential candidate in 2008; Ai-jen Poo, who works with female immigrant workers; Calina Lawrence, an Indigenous treaty and water rights activist; Saru Jayaraman, a workplace rights advocate; and tennis legend Billie Jean King.

The #MeToo movement took off in 2017 afterthe New York Times and New Yorker magazine reported sexual assault and harassment allegations by dozens of women in Hollywood, some of them huge stars, against some of the biggest names in the business.

Powerful players including Harvey Weinstein, Louis C.K., Kevin Spacey, Dustin Hoffman, Charlie Rose, Al Franken and Brent Ratner are just a few of dozens of men who have been accused of sexual misconduct after women in the industry felt emboldened to come forward with their stories.

The Golden Globe Awards are the first of this year's awards season, and are expected to set to the tone for upcoming high-profile shows including the Grammys and the Oscars.

More Golden Globes coverage:

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Watch Seth Meyers' searing opening monologue at the Golden Globes

Oprah's breathtaking Golden Globe's speech: read the full transcript

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