Here’s everything the “Hacks” star talked about on the red carpet that she referred to after winning Best Female Actor in a TV Musical or Comedy.

What was in Jean Smart’s ‘rant on the red carpet’ she mentioned in Golden Globes acceptance speech

Here's everything the "Hacks" star talked about on the red carpet that she referred to after winning Best Female Actor in a TV Musical or Comedy.

By Sydney Bucksbaum

Sydney Bucksbaum

Sydney Bucksbaum is a staff writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2019 and is a published author. Her work has previously appeared in *TV Guide Magazine*, E! News/E! Online, *The Hollywood Reporter*, Mashable, Bustle, IGN, DCComics.com, Inverse, *The Daily Northwestern*, and more.

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January 11, 2026 9:36 p.m. ET

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Jean Smart at the 2026 Golden Globes. Credit:

Jean Smart kept it light in her Golden Globes acceptance speech on Sunday night, because she already got real about the current fraught political climate earlier.

After winning the award for Best Female Actor in a TV Musical or Comedy, the *Hacks* star mentioned how she gave a "rant on the red carpet," but didn't elaborate any further.

"There's just a lot that could be said tonight," Smart said in her speech. "I said my rant on the red carpet, so I won't do it here, but thank you. Let's all do the right thing. I think everybody in their hearts knows what the right thing is to do, so let's do the right thing."

If you missed her on the red carpet and don't know what she was talking about, * *has you covered. Earlier in the night, Smart opened up to *Entertainment Tonight *about how the upcoming fifth season of her HBO comedy is going "good," but that it was hard to focus on that right now.

"Everything is a little bit overshadowed with everything that's going on in our country," Smart said. "I feel like we're kind of at a turning point in our country, and I hope people can keep their heads, because I think that's actually going to be the hardest thing, to keep our heads. But that's going to take a lot of courage and a lot of restraint, but I think that's important."

Jean Smart in 'Hacks'.

Smart went on to add how there are "certain entities that would like us to fight back," and that "it's very concerning."

She also made it clear that she understands how some people don't believe actors should use their platform to talk about politics during awards shows, but she can't keep quiet about the injustices she's seeing.

"I know there are people who find it annoying when actors take opportunities like this to talk about social and political things, but I'm not here right now as an actress," Smart said. "I'm just speaking as a citizen and a mom and I hope people understand that."

In another interview on the red carpet, Smart opened up more about her fears for the country's future.

"I’m not as optimistic about things these days, about the world these days," she told *Variety*. "But I just hope the people realize how important what’s going on is right now. Really, this is a moment of reckoning in this country. And I just hope that people do the right thing, and I think almost everybody knows in their hearts what's the right thing."

She added that she doesn't believe her opinion "matters more than anybody's."

"That’s not at all what I’m doing," she continued. "I feel like if you feel strongly about something, and you have the chance to share your feelings or encourage people or cheer somebody on, you should do it."

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Smart beat out her fellow nominees Kristen Bell for *Nobody Wants This, *Ayo Edebiri for *The Bear, *Selena Gomez for *Only Murders in the Building, *Natasha Lyonne for *Poker Face, *and* *Jenna Ortega for *Wednesday.*

"What can I say? I'm a greedy bitch," Smart began her acceptance speech, referring to this being her third time winning the award for *Hacks*. "I am absolutely thrilled to be here. I'm one of the luckiest people in this, not this room, this entire business, and it does not go unappreciated."

Smart was in good company by calling attention to current political issues during the Golden Globes. Mark Ruffalo, Wanda Sykes, and many others wore pins reading, "Be Good," as a tribute to Renee Macklin Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE agent on Jan. 7 in Minneapolis. Others were wearing "ICE Out" pins.

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The campaign is endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union and, per a news release, was organized by entertainment industry professionals with support from Maremoto, Move On, National Domestic Workers Alliance, and Working Families Power.

"Of course, this is for the mother who was murdered by an ICE agent, and it's really sad," Sykes told *Variety* before the ceremony. "I know people are out marching and all today, and we need to speak up. We need to be out there and shut this rogue government down, because it's just awful what they're doing to people."

See the full list of Golden Globes 2026 winners.

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