Pose star Mj Rodriguez becomes the 1st trans actor to win a Golden Globe: 'This is not just for me'
Pose star Mj Rodriguez made history at Sunday's subdued, non-televised Golden Globes.
Rodriguez won the award for best actress in a drama series on Sunday for her performance in the FX series, and in doing so, she became the first transgender actor to ever win a Golden Globe. But Rodriguez wasn't able to celebrate the historic moment at the usual star-studded ceremony, as the Golden Globes were pulled from NBC this year and turned into a private event following controversy over the awards body's lack of diversity and alleged ethical lapses.
With or without a public ceremony, though, Rodriguez still delivered an emotional acceptance speech on Instagram.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Thank you Golden Globes," she said. "This is for the LGBTQAI, Black, Latina, Asian, the many multi beautiful colors of the rainbow around the freaking world. This is not just for me. This is for y'all. This is the door that opens for y'all."
Rodriguez previously made history at the 2021 Emmys by becoming the first transgender performer nominated in a leading actor category, and only the third transgender actor nominated for any Emmy, though that award ended up going to Olivia Colman.
It was also significant that Rodriguez was acknowledging her Golden Globe win at all, as there had been questions about which studios and performers would promote their victories amid boycotts against the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The group faced backlash after it was revealed it had no Black members, leading to Sunday's non-televised ceremony without celebrities in attendance. "There was no acceptance speeches," Rodriguez noted on Instagram, "so I'll give it here."
Among the other firsts included Netflix taking the top Best Motion Picture - Drama award for the first time ever with The Power of the Dog. Hours after the ceremony, though, that film's official Twitter and Instagram pages made no mention of the win.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
'The disconnect between actual health care and the insurance model is widening'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Cautious optimism surrounds plans for the world's first nuclear fusion power plant
Talking Point Some in the industry feel that the plant will face many challenges
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Explore new worlds this winter at these 6 enlightening museum exhibitions
The Week Recommends Discover the estrados of Spain and the connection between art and chess in various African countries
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published