Golden Globes 2022: Hollywood Foreign Press Association murky backdrop could spell end of the awards
The Golden Globes have been one of those glitzy celebrations that have been around since the 1940s and were the first awards that would make way for the remaining prestigious award ceremonies. And the Golden Globes 2022 is all set to announce nominations even as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is dealing with the controversy that hit them earlier. Scratch that, there were quite a few controversies the group has found itself in.
For those unaware, Kjersti Flaa, a Norwegian journalist sued the HFPA as she and other members of the press were snubbed from joining the group of journalists who vote for the winners. The bunch were accused of having a "culture of corruption" and operating as a kind of cartel, "[monopolizing] the foreign entertainment reporting market," per an NPR report. It also added that the HFPA said Flaa's suit was "salacious and had false allegations."
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This was followed by the Los Angeles Times publishing investigations days before the 2021 edition was about to take place, that had details of scandals and allegations that the members had reportedly taken perks from the studios although the association refuted all those claims.
The gaps in racial diversity came to the fore as well. "There are no Black members of the Hollywood Foreign Press," she announced with the cameras rolling. "I realize, HFPA, maybe you guys didn't get the memo because your workplace is the back booth of a French McDonald's, but you gotta change that," said co-host Tina Fey. The backlash also came from A-list celebrities Tom Cruise and Scarlett Johansson who slammed the HFPA. The murky turn of events led to the bylaws being rewritten.
The NPR report also quoted German journo Helen Hoehne who said they were the first to admit that the organization need some "fixing". She was elected HFPA President in September after serving as the second-in-command. She also added that the members were reviewed and accredited. "So let's say we find you, I don't know, doing something really inappropriate," she says. "There are very harsh consequences. You may be expelled from the association. So I mean, people will think twice now."
The racial diversity issue seemed to be fixed as well. Six of the 21 new members were black and the 103 member association included 12 Latinos, 18 Asians, and nine members from the middle-east. That said, the critics were still not convinced about the HFPA's moves. With this, the bigger question mark is whether the non-televised event will see any attendees when it takes place in January 2022. The nominations will be announced on Monday and the awards, set for January 9 will take place the same night the Critics Choice Awards will be televised.