The End of the Golden Globes?

Florencia Lombardi
May 14, 2021
2 min read

On Monday 10th, NBC announced it will not broadcast the Golden Globes in 2022. The decision was made after entertainment companies and stars declared they would not participate in the award ceremony or collaborate with Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA).

This was a consequence of the revelation in March that the HFPA did not have a single black member for nearly two decades. The Golden Globes was encouraged by NBC to make “necessary changes”. Despite the HFPA recently approving a slate of changes supposed to address the controversy over their lack of diversity, critics still thought it was not enough.

Among the improvements, a 50 percent increment in the HFPA’s staff was planned for the following 18 months. This includes hiring an inclusion strategist who will advise on issues of diversity and equality. A committee of “racially and ethnically diverse members who will advise the Board and oversee critical organizational reform” will be established.

Many actors have called out the HFPA over the controversy. Ellen Pompeo wrote a letter to the association, and Mark Ruffalo said he “cannot feel proud or happy” about receiving a Golden Globe this year. Scarlett Johansson also spoke out and revealed that, due to questions related to sexual harassment, she has not been taking part in HFPA conferences for years.

Until more significant reforms are implemented, other major industries will stop working with the HFPA, including Netflix, Amazon, and WarnerMedia.

NBC released a statement saying that “We continue to believe that the HFPA is committed to meaningful reform. However, change of this magnitude takes time and work, and we feel strongly that the HFPA needs time to do it right.” Therefore, they decided to not air the Golden Globes next year and will only do so in 2023 if the organization executes its plan.