Golden Globes Canceled amid HFPA Controversy and Boycott, but Why?

The 2022 Golden Globe Awards has officially been canceled by NBC, which marks a significant moment in the event’s history ravaged by protests, boycotts, and criticism against the show and the body that runs it. Although the news might come as a shock to some, the recent cancellation is just the latest development among many other similar incidents involving lawsuits and callouts against the ceremony.

The Golden Globes’ running body, The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, has faced numerous scandals over the years. These include accusations of discrimination, inappropriate financial management, and unfair selection processes, to name a few.

Even though the HFPA has denied these allegations, records show otherwise, and even celebrities like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Ricky Gervais have criticized the show while hosting it. Their bias towards not admitting Black journalists and ignoring Black candidates during nominations has also been condemned severely.

Since the conversation around Hollywood’s lack of diversity has strengthened, it was only a matter of time until the organization was held accountable for its actions. The recent large-scale boycott of the event ignited a the fire and brought back the issues that had been kept under wraps for a long time.

In February, the Los Angeles Times published a scathing article covering the HFPA’s controversial history, which helped resurface past criticisms of the organization. The 2021 show was also met with censure when movies and TV shows like Judas and the Black Messiah, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and I May Destroy You were not recognized for their cultural significance.

This was followed by streaming giants Netflix and Amazon boycotting the ceremony, followed by Warner Bros. as well. Furthermore, the recent news regarding Tom Cruise returning his Golden Globe Awards brought even more attention to the ongoing protests.

Thus, due to the massive pressure rising in the industry, NBC announced it would be canceling the show’s broadcast. However, the network has also claimed that it’s willing to work with the organization again in 2023, provided some time has passed, and meaningful reforms have been made.

In response, the HFPA has released a detailed timeline filled with measures it plans to take to rectify its mistakes. They include promises of revising bylaws, hiring more people of color, and recruiting a chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer. But although this might sound good on paper, it remains to be seen whether the body actually keeps its word.

It should also be noted that this is not the first time the award show has faced such dire consequences. Back in the ’60s, ’80s, and mid-2000s, the HFPA had to go through similar circumstances. 

But considering it jumped back from all of them is a testament to the fact that the current situation is not its first rodeo. However, this time, the road to salvation might take actual effort and considerable time, and here’s hoping some genuine lessons are learned.