There could be one less award show next year if the Hollywood Foreign Press Association doesn’t get its act together, ’cause Tinseltown is threatening to not play ball anymore.
You mighta heard about the drama this week with the HFPA — a non-profit made up of int’l journalists who put on (and vote for winners of) the Golden Globes each year. They’ve been under a barrel lately due to a major lack of diversity in their ranks — and after coming out with a new plan to increase membership among POC … they’re still getting torched.
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Netflix and Amazon spoke out over the past couple days and said … they’re not participating with anything HFPA puts on until they expedite this reform process beyond what they’re already planning, which they say isn’t doing nearly enough to address their issues.
Ditto for Scarlett Johansson and Mark Ruffalo — who are saying the same thing … specifically calling on their peers to “step back” from HFPA (and the Golden Globes by extension).
ScarJo’s statement is especially harsh, as she alludes to sexual harassment issues the org has apparently fostered over the years, even invoking the name of Harvey Weinstein.
She told Variety, “As an actor promoting a film, one is expected to participate in awards season by attending press conferences as well as awards shows. In the past, this has often meant facing sexist questions and remarks by certain HFPA members that bordered on sexual harassment. It is the exact reason why I, for many years, refused to participate in their conferences.”
ScaJo adds this … “The HFPA is an organization that was legitimized by the likes of Harvey Weinstein to amass momentum for Academy recognition and the industry followed suit. Unless there is necessary fundamental reform within the organization, I believe it is time that we take a step back from the HFPA and focus on the importance and strength of unity within our unions and the industry as a whole.”
If you’re unfamiliar with what all the fuss is about — HFPA was reported to have had ZERO Black members for several years now, something the hosts of this year’s Globes show — Tina Fey and Amy Poehler — lampooned over and over during the NBC broadcast in February.
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Some high-profile members even trotted out during the show and committed to “doing better” … but their current goals are pretty weak, according to the movers and shakers, who are the lifeblood of the Globes to begin with. Without studios or talent, there’s no show.
Here’s what HFPA plans to do ASAP — admit 20 new members with a focus on Black recruitment, increasing membership by 50% over 18 months, losing the “must live in SoCal” requirement, opening membership to journos beyond print, no more promo gift handouts, a stricter code of conduct for press junkets and hiring a managing staff … like CEOs and stuff.
Sounds good on paper, but it’s not up to snuff for some Hollywood heavyweights, it seems.
