In recent times, there has been growing criticism and boycott calls against the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA)—the body that gives out the Golden Globe Awards—for its lack of diversity.
Amid growing pressure, NBC on Monday, said that it will not air Golden Globes 2022. “We continue to believe that the HFPA is committed to meaningful reform,” NBC said in a statement. “However, change of this magnitude takes time and work, and we feel strongly that the HFPA needs time to do it right. As such, NBC will not air the 2022 Golden Globes. Assuming the organisation executes on its plan, we are hopeful we will be in a position to air the show in January 2023,” read a statement issued by the broadcaster.
The HFPA has come under fire following an investigative report in February by The Los Angeles Times that recounted the organisation’s questionable record on diversity — including, presently, no Black members among its roughly 90 voting members.
Hollywood backlash
Actors have also been speaking out against the HFPA, with Tom Cruise returning the three Golden Globe awards he won for Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire and Magnolia. Mark Ruffalo recently said he “cannot feel proud or happy about being a recipient of this award” any longer. Scarlett Johansson also spoke out against the HFPA a few days ago, urging the industry to “step back” from the organisation until it puts more substantial reforms in place. In a statement to Variety, Johansson revealed that she has shied away from HFPA press conferences due to “sexist questions and remarks,” and said that she believes the industry should distance itself from the organization unless further reforms are implemented.
Streaming giants Netflix and Amazon Studios also said they would cut ties with the HFPA if reforms were not implemented soon. In a letter to HFPA, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said: “We don’t believe these proposed new policies — particularly around the size and speed of membership growth — will tackle the HFPA’s systemic diversity and inclusion challenges, or the lack of clear standards for how your members should operate. So we’re stopping any activities with your organization until more meaningful changes are made. Netflix and many of the talent and creators we work with cannot ignore the HFPA’s collective failure to address these crucial issues with urgency and rigor.”