On January 5, Los Angeles hosted the 82nd Golden Globes Awards. Stars turned out in droves to kick off the season of events celebrating films, TV shows and industry professionals for their successes over the last 12 months.

Of course, nothing happens in the world of celebrity these days without the involvement of the Internet – and this iteration of the Golden Globes didn’t disappoint in that regard.

The online world raved about nearly every aspect of the Golden Globes, creating a series of memes celebrating (and making fun of) the event. This largely positive response shows how the Internet can act as a global water cooler and actually bring people together.

Before we get to that point, however, let’s take a small step back.

What are the Golden Globes and why are they important?

First things first: This article is not about who and what won at the 82nd edition of the Golden Globes. While the achievements of The brutalist, Emilia Perez, ShogunAdrian Brody and Demi Moore were rightly celebrated, this piece is not about the winners of the evening. Instead, we’re looking at the Internet’s reaction to the Golden Globes as a whole.

To understand this, however, we need to take a quick look at the ceremony itself.

The Golden Globes historically kick off the awards season for film and television, with the Critics Choice Awards coming up next week and the Oscars closing out the period.

This is the 82nd edition of the Golden Globe Awards, an annual event honoring and recognizing film and television professionals.

So the Golden Globes are a harbinger that can predict how the season will go for certain pictures and shows — and give people one of the first real celebrity moments of the year. Nowadays that means memes. Lots and lots of memes. And the online world once again lived up to this reputation.

How did the internet react to the 2025 Golden Globes?

While there was a flood of posts, the basic reaction at the Golden Globes was joy and entertainment.

For example, this interaction between Margaret Qualley and Demi Moore based on their appearances in The substance was celebrated exuberantly:

Other posts looked at the outfits some celebrities wore and drew amusing parallels:

Another topic that was well received was Jeremy Strong – the Consequence Actor – and his bright green outfit with matching bucket hat:

Some posts and memes centered around amusing moments from the Golden Globes themselves, like Kathy Bates playfully tearing up her speech on camera after failing to receive an award:

At the time of writing, these posts alone have received millions upon millions of views, and a flood of other videos and memes about the event are adding even more viewing.

What does the online reaction to the Golden Globes mean?

In many ways, the internet’s reaction and creation of memes surrounding the Golden Globes is a sign of pure positivity that is increasingly rare in our time.

For many, the online world can be a negative place – especially in a communal sense. A European Parliament report found that the internet can “harm social relationships and social cohesion”, with the research citing a range of problems such as addiction and bullying.

Besides, Scientific American has conducted studies showing that social media can divide us more, with influencers sharing extreme views to garner likes, which can divide the public.

While this is certainly true – and I’m sure many of us experience this colloquially – there is another, more positive side to the online world: connection.

The Pew Research Center found that while the Internet also has drawbacks, many people also view it as a “lifeline of community,” something that allows them to feel close to other people. This includes everything from assisting with a divorce to finding people who share the same interests. In other words, the Internet can act as a great connection.

It is this side of the online world that the reaction to the 2025 Golden Globes fell into.

With Foreign policy Despite 2024 being considered a “fierce election year,” the world has seemed more divided than usual over the past 12 months, but the joyous response to the Golden Globes bucked that trend.

It wasn’t about body-shaming celebrities or fussing over who won what, but rather it was a unifying moment, one in which the online world made memes and had a lot of fun with the biggest pop culture of the year so far. For a moment, the internet was a global water cooler where people came together to have a good time and enjoy an event, just as 2025 began.

To say that the internet is exclusively negative is reductive. Yes, it can be a negative place, but it can also be a positive one – and the internet’s reaction to the Golden Globes demonstrated that to great effect.