The Golden Globes — Hollywood’s annual popularity contest built on free-flowing booze, political pronouncements and ego-boosting since 1944 — was on the verge of collapse Monday after stars turned on the event and NBC dropped the telecast for 2022.
NBC abruptly pulled the plug on airing the awards next year, citing the need for “meaningful reform” by the embattled Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
“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,” the network said in a statement Monday, according to the Hollywood Reporter. “As such, NBC will not air the 2022 Golden Globes. Assuming the organization executes on its plan, we are hopeful we will be in a position to air the show in January 2023.”
Meanwhile, the organization responded to the cancellation with a statement pledging to implement changes “quickly,” even with a broadcast platform up in the air.
“Regardless of the next air date of the Golden Globes, implementing transformational changes as quickly — and as thoughtfully — as possible remains the top priority,” the board said in a statement obtained by The Wrap. “We invite our partners in the industry to the table to work with us on the systemic reform that is long overdue, both in our organization as well as within the industry at large.”
The HFPA has faced heavy scrutiny for months — not to mention a cascade of glitterati boycotts — over alleged diversity and ethical failings within its membership, most notably a lack of black members within the 87-member organization, made up of “international” journalists based in Los Angeles. After a bombshell LA Times report in February detailed the group’s lack of inclusion — and denounced it as an “insular, improbably powerful group” — the Time’s Up organization was joined by Hollywood notables including Shonda Rhimes, Kerry Washington, Judd Apatow, Alyssa Milano, Amy Schumer and more in slamming the group for its shortfalls, reiterating that “a cosmetic fix isn’t enough” in a barrage of solidarity tweets.
Last week, when the HFPA revealed a draft plan for reform, which included “a specific focus on recruiting Black members,” Time’s Up dismissed its contents as “window-dressing platitudes.”
But it might be too late for some. Even three-time Golden Globe winner Tom Cruise, 58, is showing his angst: On Monday, he allegedly returned the trio of statues he received — for “Jerry Maguire,” “Born on the Fourth of July” and “Magnolia” — to the organization, Deadline reported Monday. The turmoil had already extended into last week when “Black Widow” star Scarlett Johansson, 36, suggested that “it is time that we take a step back from the HFPA” in a statement. She pinpointed “facing sexist questions and remarks by certain HFPA members that bordered on sexual harassment” while promoting film projects during press conferences and awards shows.
Fellow “Avengers” star Mark Ruffalo also piled on. “Honestly, as a recent winner of a Golden Globe, I cannot feel proud or happy about being a recipient of this award. It’s discouraging,” he said in a statement shared by the Hollywood Reporter. “To see the HFPA, which has gained prominence and profited handsomely from their involvement with filmmakers and actors, resist the change that is being asked of them from many of the groups that have been most disenfranchised by their culture of secrecy and exclusion.”
The Globes has seemingly ignored both women and filmmakers of color for years, even in the aftermath of the #MeToo movement. In 2017 alone, accomplished women like “Lady Bird” director and writer Greta Gerwig, “Mudbound” co-writer Dee Rees and “Girls Trip” star Tiffany Haddish all were snubbed nominations in a swath of categories despite their huge successes that year.
And 2019 wasn’t much better, with only five of 30 acting nominees being people of color. As The Post’s Maureen Callahan summed up the Globes’ focus at that time: “Fourteen months since #MeToo and Time’s Up, and Hollywood has collectively retreated to its default position of back-patting and political hectoring.”
The Globes also have become known for bestowing eyebrow-raising nominations that call into question the integrity of the choices offered up for judging. Even 2021 show co-hosts Amy Poehler and Tina Fey were up-front this year about the organization’s failings — onstage, from the live event itself.
“This is something we probably should have told you earlier. Everyone is understandably upset at the HFPA and their choices,” Poehler, 49, said during the opening monologue. “A lot of flashy garbage got nominated. But that happens, that’s, like, their thing. A number of black actors and black-led projects were overlooked.”
One doesn’t have to look far for proof: Widely-dissed Netflix dramedy “Emily in Paris,” starring Lily Collins — which The Post dubbed an “obnoxious second-rate ‘Sex and the City’ wannabe” — was nominated this year for both Best TV Series, Comedy, and Best Actress in a TV Series, Comedy. Meanwhile, HBO’s unnerving “I May Destroy You,” featuring rising star Michaela Coel, was snubbed. Post critic Johnny Oleksinski couldn’t help but note that “Emily” may have won that popularity contest when Netflix flew ⅓ of the Globes voters to Paris for junket and paid $1,400-a-night to put them up. No ethical quandary there.
Ironically, on Friday, Netflix announced it would no longer work with the HFPA, with the streaming network’s co-CEO, Ted Sarandos, penning a letter to its leadership. His response came in the wake of an HFPA proposal regarding inclusion earlier in the week.
“We don’t believe these proposed new policies — particularly around the size and speed of membership growth — will tackle the HFPA’s systemic diversity and inclusion challenges, or the lack of clear standards for how your members should operate,” a portion of his statement read. “So we’re stopping any activities with your organization until more meaningful changes are made.” (Amazon and WarnerMedia also put the organization at arm’s length last week.)
Regardless of whether the Champagne-filled awards show can stay relevant — much less find a new broadcast venue — it may have its work cut out for it: The ratings for the 2021 awards, held on Feb. 28, dropped to just 6.9 million viewers, down from 18.4 million who watched in 2020.