Why Everyone Is Talking About Ellen DeGeneres At The Golden Globes

The 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony was the same as every other year — filled with controversial moments. From Ricky Gervais' shocking quip aimed at Felicity Huffman and her involvement in the college admissions scam to Joaquin Phoenix using his speech as an opportunity to scold his peers for taking private jets, the ceremony on Jan. 5, 2020, served as a reminder to always expect the unexpected at Hollywood award shows. 

On the other hand, the 77th Golden Globe Awards were probably one of the most heartwarming, too — filled with poignant moments from one of  Tinseltown's most respected comedians: Ellen DeGeneres. From the moment she stepped out on the red carpet with her partner of over 15 years, Portia de Rossi, the night belonged to the Finding Dory star. From her impact on LGBTQ visibility in Hollywood to her designer duds, here's why everyone is talking about Ellen DeGeneres at the Golden Globe Awards.

In what was perhaps one of the most heartfelt moments of the 2020 Golden Globes, Ellen DeGeneres made her way to the stage to accept the second-ever Carol Burnett Award. It's an award The New York Times describes as, "a lifetime achievement accolade for television." Presenting the award was Saturday Night Live's Kate McKinnon who gave a touching speech on how DeGeneres' coming-out had inspired her own. "The only thing that made it less scary was seeing Ellen on TV," McKinnon said (via The Hollywood Reporter). "She really risked her entire life and her entire career in order to tell the truth, and she suffered greatly for it."

Once on stage, DeGeneres detailed her start on television, filled with its highs and lows. "I had a successful sitcom, and I came out, and then I lost that sitcom, and then I got another sitcom, and I lost that sitcom, too," she began. "After that, I got a talk show and I was able to be myself. And that was 17 years ago."

With a speech also filled with hilariously adorable moments, like DeGeneres calling her partner Portia de Rossi her "husband Mark," the audience couldn't help but smile and laugh. However, it's clear that the speech was as heartwarming as it was hilarious seeing as how, later in the evening, a teary-eyed Jennifer Aniston approached DeGeneres off-camera to catch up with the comedian and, presumably, congratulate her on her monumental award.  

Ellen DeGeneres didn't just make headlines for accepting the Carol Burnett Award at the 77th Golden Globe Awards — she also stole the spotlight thanks to her and wife Portia de Rossi's red carpet style.  

Suiting up together, both DeGeneres and de Rossi arrived at the Beverly Hilton in coordinated outfits. According to InStyle, the duo had "tailored CELINE by Hedi Slimane suits." The talk show host showed up in a bedazzled suit, while the Arrested Development star opted for a simple black pantsuit and black tie. As the outlet notes, walking the red carpet was meaningful for the couple as it marked the first time they did so together. However, they "made their first official appearance together at the HBO Golden Globe Awards Party back in 2005."

While it was clearly a big night for DeGeneres, ironically, it was her wife who was the more-talked about of the duo during the pre-show portion of the evening. Debuting a new 'do, de Rossi had cut her blonde locks and had them slicked back — a hairstyle that viewers at home loved. According to Popsugar, the actress' mane set Twitter abuzz, with fans of the couple all commenting on how fantastic she looked. Considering the fact that the couple has been together for over 15 years, its impressive they still manage to make waves with their chic style.

In addition to DeGeneres' exchange with Jennifer Aniston and her red carpet moment with de Rossi, here are a few other moments you didn't see at the 2020 Golden Globes.