NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 06: Bruce Springsteen performs onstage during the 17th Annual Stand Up For Heroes Benefit presented by Bob Woodruff Foundation and NY Comedy Festival at David Geffen Hall on November 06, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Bob Woodruff Foundation)

The 2024 Golden Globes, hosted at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, maintained their reputation for a more laid-back atmosphere, fueled in part by the open bar. During the awards ceremony on Sunday night (Jan. 7), as the winners took the stage, one acceptance speech turned into a moment of genuine connection with a rock legend.

When Poor Things was announced as the winner of the best motion picture – musical or comedy category, the film’s team, including star/producer Emma Stone and director/producer Yorgos Lanthimos, stepped forward. Having already won the award for best performance by a female actor in a motion picture – musical or comedy earlier in the night, Stone relinquished her speech slot as a producer, prompting the Greek director to take the microphone.

Given the unconventional nature of the film, centered around a young woman (played by Stone) challenging societal expectations, it was fitting that Lanthimos discarded formalities at the Golden Globes and used his moment to reach out to an iconic figure.

“I just wanted to speak to Bruce Springsteen the whole night,” Lanthimos declared while seizing the mic. “We have the same birthday – the 23rd of September!” Amid laughter from the Poor Things cast and crew, the camera captured Springsteen giving a thumbs-up from his table. (Springsteen was a 2024 Golden Globe nominee for writing “Addicted to Romance” for She Came to Me, competing for best original song but ultimately losing to Billie Eilish O’Connell and Finneas O’Connell’s “What Was I Made For?” from the Barbie film.)

“He’s been my hero since I grew up,” Lanthimos continued. “Anyway, I’m wasting my time.”

Expressing gratitude to Searchlight Pictures, the film’s cast, and crew, with a special mention for Emma Stone, Lanthimos couldn’t wrap up without another nod to the Boss. “Thank you, Bruce Springsteen, for making me grew up [sic] the way I did.”

In a moment of defiance against social norms, when the expected response was to sit down, Yorgos stood up. Truly, it was a moment of “Growin’ up.”