Hollywood backlash against the Golden Globes reached a fever pitch on Monday leading to U.S. television network NBC dropping its broadcast of the annual ceremony as uproar continues about the ethics and lack of diversity in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA).
"Mission Impossible" franchise star Tom Cruise recently joined a slate of celebrities who have returned their Golden Globe trophies to the HFPA for its failure to commit to reforms amid allegations of preferential treatment and a lack of racial representation, Reuters noted.
The 50-year-old Cruise has handed back two of his awards in protest of the HFPA. The trophies returned were two Best Actor Golden Globe trophies he won for "Jerry Maguire" in 1997 and "Born on the Fourth of July" in 1990, and one Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe he won for "Magnolia" in 2000.
According to USA Today, the HFPA and its members, who have also come under fire for asking "racially insensitive, sexist and homophobic questions" during press tours and conferences, recently decided to recruit Black members while vowing to make other changes over the next 18 months. However, the gesture seems too little too late.
In a statement announcing the cancellation, NBC said that "change of this magnitude takes time and work." NBC added that the HFPA needs time to do it right.
"Assuming the organization executes on its plan, we are hopeful we will be in a position to air the show in January 2023," NBC added.
In a statement released by the HFPA, the association presented a timetable demonstrating their commitment to achieving their diversity goals with extreme urgency.
By the first week of August, HFPA will reportedly adhere to admitting new members, electing a new chief executive and new officers, and approving a new code of conduct, as well as providing diversity and sexual harassment training to its ranks, among other steps, Deadline confirmed.
"Black Widow" star Scarlet Johansson joined other vocal Hollywood critics, including entertainment conglomerates Netflix, Amazon Studios, WarnerMedia, in publicity expressing that they would no longer work with the HFPA unless important changes are made.
"[Press conferences] have often meant facing sexist questions and remarks by certain HFPA members that bordered on sexual harassment," Johansson said in a statement, pleading to her fellow actors to take a step back from the Golden Globes.
The annual Golden Globes ceremony has become one of the biggest Hollywood awards shows in the run-up to the Oscars.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.