Golden Globes: Tom Cruise returns awards as NBC announces it won’t broadcast 2022 ceremony over diversity row

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association – which oversees the annual awards show – has been rocked by a row over a lack of diversity
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US network NBC has said it will not broadcast next year’s Golden Globe Awards, following criticism over the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s (HFPA) lack of diversity.

The HFPA, which oversees the annual awards show, has been heavily criticised after it emerged it had no black members.

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Its ethics have also been questioned over alleged shady practices including accepting inappropriate “freebies” following an investigation by the Los Angeles Times.

The HFPA, which oversees the annual awards show, has been heavily criticised after it emerged it had no black members (Photo: VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)The HFPA, which oversees the annual awards show, has been heavily criticised after it emerged it had no black members (Photo: VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)
The HFPA, which oversees the annual awards show, has been heavily criticised after it emerged it had no black members (Photo: VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)

Now NBC, which pays millions of dollars to broadcast the ceremony each year, said it would not do so in 2022. The 2021 ceremony took place on 28 February, with the HFPA apologising during the show and promising reform.

“We continue to believe that the HFPA is committed to meaningful reform,” said the network in a statement. “However, change of this magnitude takes time and work, and we feel strongly that the HFPA needs time to do it right.

“As such, NBC will not air the 2022 Golden Globes. Assuming the organisation executes on its plan, we are hopeful we will be in a position to air the show in January 2023.”

Who has spoken out against the association?

(Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)(Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
(Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
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Tom Cruise is also understood to have handed his trophies back in protest against the HFPA.

The star, 58, won best drama actor in 1990 for Born On The Fourth Of July, then best musical or comedy actor in 1997 for Jerry Maguire. He won a supporting actor award in 2000 for Magnolia.

Cruise’s protests follows that of Scarlett Johansson, who added her voice over the weekend and said she had been subjected to “sexist questions and remarks by certain HFPA members that bordered on sexual harassment”.

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Acclaimed filmmaker Ava DuVernay also welcomed NBC’s announcement.

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“Everything matters,” she tweeted. “Even this. The ripple effects echo through our industry, especially for Black artists and artists of colour. Kudos to all the activists, artists, publicists and executives who took a stand to make this so.”

Netflix and Amazon, two of the biggest players in Hollywood, previously said they would not work with the HFPA until it introduced more meaningful reform; Netflix chief executive Ted Sarandos has said the streaming giant’s relationship with the HFPA is on hold “until more meaningful changes are made”.

WarnerMedia, which owns heavyweights HBO and Warner Bros, also said it would not work with the association.

In a letter reported by entertainment website Deadline, it said it would “refrain from direct engagement with the HFPA, including sanctioned press conferences and invitations to cover other industry events with talent” until appropriate changes are made.

Why are they protesting?

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The HFPA – an organisation of roughly 90 non-US journalists based in southern California – promised to fix its diversity problem by admitting more members, after it emerged in February that none of its members were black.

It announced its plans last week, which included widening its membership and hiring diversity advisers.

HFPA president Ali Sar said at the time that an “overwhelming vote to reform the association” reaffirmed its “commitment to change.” However, the proposals were widely criticised.

Time’s Up, founded in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, said the plans fell short of what was required.