Golden Globes hit over poor diversity record
NBC network will not air the Golden Globes next year, saying the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) that puts on the annual awards show needs to reform its poor record for diversity.
“We continue to believe that the HFPA is committed to meaningful reform,” NBC said. “However, change of this magnitude takes time and work, and we feel strongly that the HFPA needs time to do it right.”
The decision follows months of criticism against the HFPA for a lack of diversity among its members, and puts pressure on the membership to enact reforms before next year, when NBC will make a call about whether the show will return in 2023.
In recent weeks, major studios and networks have refused to work with the journalists who make up the HFPA. The association came under fire for its lack of diversity, including no Black members.
A Los Angeles Times report published before this year’s show highlighted the lack of racial diversity among the foreign correspondents who make up its membership. Further, others told the newspaper that awards can effectively be “bought” with expensive press junkets, among other inappropriate behavior.
Those revelations have prompted several major networks, including Netflix, WarnerMedia and Amazon Studios, to announce that they would not participate in any Globes-related events until the issues had been adequately addressed.
Others have taken the criticism against the HFPA even further, with Tom Cruise reportedly returning his three Golden Globe awards in protest.
HFPA COMMITS TO REFORMS
Recently, the group introduced a plan that would increase the number of Black reporters in its organization, as well as other people of color, and proposed restrictions on the gifts its voters can accept and the payment they receive for their work on committees.
“Regardless of the next air date of the Golden Globes, implementing transformational changes as quickly – and as thoughtfully – as possible remains the top priority for our organization,” HFPA said.
It said it wants to add at least 20 new members in 2021, with a specific focus on Black recruits, and then expand that membership by 50% over the next 18 months. Prior to these changes, the group didn’t have a single Black member.
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