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Seth Meyers makes Golden Globes audience gasp with Harvey Weinstein joke about his death

The late-night host tackled the Hollywood sexual harassment scandal head on

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The Golden Globes has kicked off with an opening monologue from host Seth Meyers which saw him directly address the sexual harassment scandal to have rocked Hollywood in recent months.

Follow our Golden Globes liveblog for the latest updates

"Good evening ladies and remaining gentlemen," Meyers addressed the crowd before throwing himself into a 15-minute long monologue in which he directly mentioned disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein with one joke in particular drawing gasps from the audience.

Meyers addressed "the elephant not in the room" by saying: 'Harvey Weinstein isn't in the room tonight. Don't worry, he'll be back in 20 years when he''ll be the first person to be booed during the In Memoriam segment."

“People in this room worked really hard to get here, but it’s clearer than ever before that women had to work even harder,” Meyers said. “I look forward to you leading us into whatever comes next. So thank you so much for letting me say that.”

Meyers also targeted Kevin Spacey and Woody Allen in a monologue that received immense applaud from the assembled guests - you can find a compilation of the best jokes here.

Scenes from the 2017 Golden Globes

Scenes from the 2017 Golden Globes

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    (L-R) Actors Trevante Rhodes and Naomie Harris, director Barry Jenkins, actors Ashton Sanders, Janelle Monae and Mahershala Ali of 'Moonlight,' winner of Best Motion Picture - Drama, pose in the press room during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.

    Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

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    Actresses Priyanka Chopra (L) and Sofia Vergara attend the 18th Annual Post-Golden Globes Party hosted by Warner Bros. Pictures and InStyle at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.

    Frazer Harrison/Getty

  • 3/22

    Actress Tracee Ellis Ross arrives at the 74th annual Golden Globe Awards, January 8, 2017, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

    Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images

  • 4/22

    Actress Janelle Monae (L) and director Barry Jenkins of "Moonlight," winner of Best Motion Picture - Drama, pose in the press room during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.

    Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

  • 5/22

    Priyanka Chopra arrives at the 74th annual Golden Globe Awards, January 8, 2017, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

    Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images

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    BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 08: In this handout photo provided by NBCUniversal, actor Ashton Sanders, producer Adele Romanski, producer Jeremy Kleiner, director Barry Jenkins, actor Trevante Rhodes, cinematographer James Laxton, actress Naomie Harris and producer Dede Gardner of "Moonlight" accept the award for Best Motion Picture - Drama for "Moonlight" onstage during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.

    Paul Drinkwater/NBC via Getty

  • 7/22

    Actress Tracee Ellis Ross, winner of Best Performance in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy for 'Black-ish,' poses in the press room during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.

    Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

  • 8/22

    BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 08: In this handout photo provided by NBCUniversal, (L-R) producer Adele Romanski, director Barry Jenkins, actress Janelle Monae and producer Dede Gardner and the cast and crew of "Moonlight" accept the award for Best Motion Picture - Drama for "Moonlight" onstage during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.

    Paul Drinkwater/NBC via Getty

  • 9/22

    Actor Tom Hiddleston, winner of Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film for 'The Night Manager,' poses in the press room during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.

    Kevin Winter/Getty

  • 10/22

    Sistine Stallone Scarlet Stallone and Sophia Stallone arrive at the 74th annual Golden Globe Awards, January 8, 2017, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

    AFP/Getty

  • 11/22

    Model Kendall Jenner and television personality Kylie Jenner attend the Universal, NBC, Focus Features, E! Entertainment Golden Globes after party sponsored by Chrysler on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.

    Jesse Grant/Getty

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    BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 08: Actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson, winner of Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for 'Nocturnal Animals,' poses in the press room during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.

    Kevin Winter/Getty

  • 13/22

    Actors Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, winners of the Best Performance by an Actor/Actress in a Motion Picture ? Comedy or Musical for 'La La Land', pose in the press room at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017.

    Rock Beck/AFP/Getty Images

  • 14/22

    Director Paul Verhoeven, winner of Best Foreign Language Film for 'Elle,' poses in the press room during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.

    Kevin Winter/Getty

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    Actor Hugh Laurie, winner of Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film for 'The Night Manager,' poses in the press room during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Images)

    Kevin Winter/Getty

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    Actress Isabelle Huppert, winner of Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama for 'Elle,' and director Paul Verhoeven, winner of Best Foreign Language Film for 'Elle,' pose in the press room at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.

    AFP/Getty Images

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    Actor Ryan Gosling, actress Emma Stone and filmmaker Damien Chazelle pose in the press room during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.

    Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

  • 18/22

    (L-R) Songwriters Benj Pasek, Justin Hurwitz and Justin Paul, winners of Best Original Song for 'City of Stars' from 'La La Land,' pose in the press room during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.

    Rock Beck/AFP/Getty Images

  • 19/22

    Cast and crew of 'Atlanta,' winners of Best Series - Musical or Comedy, pose in the press room during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.

    Kevin Winter/Getty

  • 20/22

    In this handout photo provided by NBCUniversal, Meryl Streep accepts Cecil B. DeMille Award during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.

    Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal/Getty

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    Actress Meryl Streep, recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award, poses in the press room during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.

    Kevin Winter/Getty

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    BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 08: Writer Stephen Glover (L) and actor/writer Donald Glover, winners of Best Series - Musical or Comedy for 'Atlanta,' attend the 18th Annual Post-Golden Globes Party hosted by Warner Bros. Pictures and InStyle at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.

    Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Viewers are praising Natalie Portman for subtly criticising the lack of female representation in the Best Director category she was presenting alongside Ron Howard.

You can find a full list of all the Golden Globes 2018 winners here.​

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