LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), a member-supported public media network. Hear our news on-air at our partner site:
Like clockwork, the future leader of the United States took time to get back at acclaimed actress Meryl Streep, who lamented about his behavior during the Golden Globes last night. He tweeted this morning, calling her "overrated" and a "Hillary flunky who lost big."
During her speech accepting the Cecil B. de Mille Lifetime Achievement Award, Streep reflected on Trump mocking former Washington Post, current NY Times reporter Serge Kovaleski:
There was one performance this year that stunned me. It sank its hooks in my heart. Not because it was good. There was nothing good about it. But it was effective and it did its job. It made its intended audience laugh and show their teeth. It was that moment when the person asking to sit in the most respected seat in our country imitated a disabled reporter, someone he outranked in privilege, power, and the capacity to fight back. It kind of broke my heart when I saw it. I still can't get it out of my head because it wasn't in a movie. It was real life. And this instinct to humiliate, when it's modeled by someone in the public platform, by someone powerful, it filters down into everybody's life, because it kind of gives permission for other people to do the same thing. Disrespect invites disrespect. Violence incites violence. When the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose.
The portion of that Meryl Streep speech that stunned and silenced the Golden Globes. pic.twitter.com/QIcQfTqDqB
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) January 9, 2017
Here's video showing Trump mocking Kovaleski during a speech, plus his usual denials:
In an interview with the NY Times yesterday, the president-elect insisted, "I was never mocking anyone. I was calling into question a reporter who had gotten nervous because he had changed his story." Trump had cited Kovaleski's WaPo article from September 2001 that alleged Muslims in New Jersey were celebrating the World Trade Center attacks.
"People keep saying I intended to mock the reporter’s disability, as if Meryl Streep and others could read my mind, and I did no such thing," Trump told the Times. "And remember, Meryl Streep introduced Hillary Clinton at her convention, and a lot of these people"—referring to Hollywood—"supported Hillary."
Naturally, people reacted on social media.
Hey Meryl, your #liberalprivilege is showing. #GoldenGlobes
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) January 9, 2017
She has never been more graceful than tonight, nearly w/out voice, her voice has never been so strong. TY Meryl Streep. #GoldenGlobes
— Sharon Stone (@sharonstone) January 9, 2017
This Meryl Streep speech is why Trump won. And if people in Hollywood don't start recognizing why and how - you will help him get re-elected
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) January 9, 2017
Um she asked him not to make fun of disabled people and advocated for the freedom of the press and the arts you fucking moron https://t.co/IzZexd7Bb4
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) January 9, 2017
.@billyeichner calling republicans like me "fucking morons" is a great way for Hollywood to bridge the cultural divide. Enjoy your bubble.
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) January 9, 2017
.@MeghanMcCain I rather live in a bubble than live with people who don't feel a need to respect the disabled, freedom of speech & the arts!!
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) January 9, 2017
Well, the cultural divide is as great as ever.