Oprah Winfrey leaves Golden Globes silent with gender equality speech

Oprah Winfrey has spoken out on gender and racial equality at the 75th Golden Globes.

The annual awards show saw hundreds of celebs turn up wearing black with the theme Time Up to call an end to the oppression of women.

Media mogul Oprah spoke out as she became the first African-American woman to be awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes.

The honorary award is given to performers for their “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment” at the annual movie and television awards show.

75th Annual Golden Globe Awards (Photo by Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

Addressing the glitzy awards show, Winfrey said: “It’s not lost on me that at this moment, there are little girls watching as I become the first black woman to receive this award”.

The TV and movie star, who is a billionaire, also praised the work of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

“We all know that the press is under siege at the moment,” Winfrey said.

Oprah Winfrey poses with the Cecil B. DeMille Award (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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“I want to say that I value the press more than ever before.


“Which brings me to this: What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have.

“I’m especially proud and inspired by all the women who felt strong enough and empowered enough to speak up and share their personal stories.”

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Winfrey added: “I want all the girls watching to know: A new day is on the horizon. When that new day finally dawns, it will be because of the magnificent women and many of them are in this room tonight,” she said.

“Each of us in this room are celebrated because of the stories we tell and this year, we became the story.

“For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dared speak the truth to the power of those men. But their time is up.”