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I was once afraid of people saying, 'Who does she think she is?' Now I have the courage to stand and say, 'This is who I am.'

Oprah Winfrey

Speech at the Golden Globes, accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award, 2018 · Checked on 1 March 2026
I was once afraid of people saying, 'Who does she think she is?' Now I have the courage to stand and say, 'This is who I am.'

Analysis

A review of the official transcript and video of Oprah’s 2018 Golden Globes speech shows no line that matches the statement word‑for‑word. While she did speak about overcoming fear and being true to herself, the specific phrasing about fearing the question “Who does she think she is?” followed by “This is who I am” does not appear. The sentiment is similar to themes she expressed, but the quote is either paraphrased or taken from a different interview.

Background

Oprah Winfrey received the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2018 Golden Globes and gave a widely reported speech that addressed racism, the #MeToo movement, and personal empowerment. Media outlets published full transcripts and video clips of the address, which have been used to verify quotations. No reputable source records the exact wording presented in the statement.

Verdict summary

The quote is not an exact line from Oprah Winfrey’s 2018 Golden Globes Cecil B. DeMille acceptance speech.

Sources consulted

— Variety, "Oprah Winfrey's Golden Globes Speech: Full Transcript," Jan. 7, 2018, https://variety.com/2018/film/news/oprah-winfrey-golden-globes-speech-transcript-1202665489/
— The Guardian, "Oprah Winfrey's Golden Globes speech: a complete transcript," Jan. 7, 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jan/07/oprah-winfrey-golden-globes-speech-transcript
— YouTube, "Oprah Winfrey Cecil B. DeMille Award Acceptance Speech (Full)" (official Golden Globes channel), Jan. 7, 2018