On the Globes cancellation
Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 9:32PM You probably heard the news today that NBC has cancelled the Golden Globes for January 2022. The past couple of days have been a flurry of stars and distributors and PR firms condemning the Globes and boycotting them. Or 'stepping back from' to use Scarlett Johansson's gentler euphemism. But we find the timing of this sudden wave of condemnation to be suspicious and more than a little hypocritical of the industry given their own ethics problems and systemic racism and sexism. First and foremost, it's all happening three whole months after the Golden Globes exposé in the Los Angeles Times which touched a nerve with its revelation that the organization, which is made up of 87 people, had no black members. (Exacerbating that particular problem -- though nobody likes to try to understand structural problems as it's easier to simply condemn and move on -- is that they only allow one member to represent each "foreign" country and many aren't as diverse as the US; that 'per country' rule, at least, will have to go.)
Did Hollywood rise up against the Globes after that expose? Nope. They went right on courting their favor until awards season had entirely played itself out! There were awards to be won and films and tv shows to promote. No stars boycotted the ceremony and neither did any studios. But now, everyone is in the clear for another year. Distributors don't have to think about campaigning for awards or promoting their films and television shows in that particular way for a while now...
I apologize for being so cynical but the other thing that's really maddening is hearing the Globes ethical lapses cited as one of the reasons for various studios and distributors to boycott them. The Globes have historically had trouble resisting gifts and being wined and dined. Everyone knows this is true. But who exactly was funding this gift-giving and throwing the junkets and paying for the airfare and such? A luxurious trip for Netflix's Emily in Paris this season was cited by many as the reason for the show's controversial nominations at the Globes. And Netflix was one of the first studios to cut off ties to the HFPA this week. Go figure.
I made you this beautiful meal and now I will condemn you for eating it.
It would be like if Sony had condemned the Globes right after those nominations for The Tourist which were also blamed on excessive expensive courting of favor. I'm not here to tell you that the HFPA is a squeaky clean organization or that they don't have significant flaws. But virtue signalling combined with hypocrisy is really f***ing exhausting.
Tom Cruise, hardly an unproblematic figure himself, returned his three Golden Globes this week. Scarlett Johansson, also a perennial favourite of the Globes, publicly condemned them and asked other stars to join her. Strangely she equates them with Harvey Weinstein. I don't doubt for a second that the HFPA has sexism problems (most organizations run by men do) but the Golden Globes popularity and influence in Hollywood pre-dates the existence of Harvey Weinstein's career by a lot. They've been around since 1944 and televised nationally since 1964. Weinstein wasn't reshaping the awards circus as we know it until the mid 1990s and Aughts. Maybe Scarlett doesn't know this but it feels like a careless conflation, especially since none of the members (to our knowledge) have been accused of rape or sexual harrassment.
As to the absence of the ceremony itself...
Here I must restate my own bias which I've always been honest about: I enjoy the Golden Globes ceremony more than other awards show each year (barring the Oscars and even then the enjoyment is for entirely different reasons). And I will miss it. The Globes are the most "fun" and they have a point of view. I cherish points of view even when I don't agree with them. It's why I regularly bemoan the homogeneity of 30+ critics awards all loving the exact same 4 actors and 5 or 6 films each years.
Yes the Globes point of view is questionable at times. Sometimes it's downright bizarre and silly and ethically compromised. And it always involves star-f***ing tendencies and an insatiable desire to crown the new (in television) or the musical (in film). But at least it's a point of view. The Critics Choice Awards don't have a point of view but just nominate everyone (as the increasing amount of nominees in the marquee categories indicates). And no one really cares about that show. SAG is very narrowly focused and the audience interest isn't as intense. There is nothing like the Globes and the season will be very different without them.
At the very least one sad casualty that I hope everyone can agree on is that there will be less recognition of comedies, which is something almost every organization that gives out movie awards struggles to appreciate other than the Globes.
What will happen in the media vacuum?
Media outlets have been quick to condemn the Globes of course. But what will they do without their favourite punching bag which they both obsess over (even if it's often in a negative way) and profit from? The Film Experience is a small indie movie site but I am willing to bet that percentages are similar across the board for the large corporate sites since they are definitely similar in terms of TV ratings. The Oscars are the King and always generate the most reader interest and page views. The Globes generate passionate conversation as well and regularly spur interest if not quite in as sizeable a way as the Oscars. All other awards pale in comparison when it comes to audience interest as if people only half care about anything awardsy that isn't the Oscars... with the Globes being an exception that's usually tossed under the umbrella of 'guilty pleasure'.
NBC claims that if the HFPA commits to "meaningful reform" they hope to air the show again in January 2023. The HFPA has stated in response:
Regardless of the next air date of the Golden Globes, implementing transformational changes as quickly -- and as thoughtfully -- as possible remains the top priority for our organization. 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."
Hollywood has of course been under attack on all sides these past few years for the industry's systemic sexism, ethics, and racism problems. Now a much less important body that is basically Hollywood-adjacent (the HFPA) is under attack for many of the same reasons and Hollywood's power players are piling on. Do they feel relief that the target has shifted? Is this part of their own reform and evolution or just virtue-signalling at utterly no cost to them happening at what is the most convenient time possible for literally every studio, star, and PR firm? Only time will tell.
Golden Globes, Netflix, Oscars (20), Punditry, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Cruise
Reader Comments (67)
The hypocrisy of it all!
I'll sure miss them. Still don't understand why Film Twitter is so happy about this. Feels like another nail in the awards shows coffin.
Yeah, for me the biggest loss is to TV - the Globes almost never repeated winners (or even nominees) on that end, as far as I can tell, no other televised shows ever awarded Rachel Bloom, Gina Rodriguez, Andy Samberg, Ramy Youssef, Tracee Ellis Ross...
Scarlett Johansson is a moron
I think it's moronic. There are far more important things to focus on. This fake moral high ground is annoying. Also it's curious that they conplained about lack of black members when all members are foreign and therefore a minority in America. There are other kinds of people other than white or black.
Are the Globes not going to give awards altogether next year? Or is it that they simply won't hold/broadcast a ceremony (but still announce nominations and awards)?
LOL at Film twitter trying to make the Crtics Choice happen.
Also people saying they're irrelevant. I mean, they totally shape the race but sure... whatever!
I agree a lot with this article. I did rub me the wrong way seeing some celebrities slam the HFPA, but had no problem attending the Golden Globes. A perfect example is Mark Ruffalo imo. He slams the organization, but he had no problem attending and accepting his Golden Globe.
As corrupt as the Golden Globes are, I don't see how the BAFTA or Oscars are any better. We've all seen the BAFTAs/Oscars So White hashtags. A major reason for the corruption is the amount of money spent on campaigning by studios (especially Netflix). If anything needs to change, it's that there should be a budget limit on campaigning. That way all studios are on the same playing field.
The Golden Globes were the most entertaining show of awards season. It's certainly not the Critic's Choice that's for sure lol. Also, I believe not having the GG is going to hurt the television side. There were tv shows that I felt were factually helped, visibility wise, by a Golden Globe win. Shows that probably would have been cancelled otherwise. A recent example would be Ramy Youssef. Before his GG win, I heard zero buzz about his show (he even referenced that is his acceptance show). That win helped the second season gain viewership/attention, which lead him to breakthrough at the Emmys and SAG.
One more thing, the Golden Globes were also the ONLY major awards body to award Amy Poehler and Steve Carell for their iconic performances on Parks and Rec and The Office. Something the Emmys never did.
I will miss these awards, too (hopefully another network picks it up - I do not have cable so ABC or CBS are best). On a side note, on your "200 Oldest Living Screen Stars" list - the oldest has passed, Norman Lloyd. He was 106.
Wait I thought NBC is just not airing them. Are they cancelled altogether?
Frank -- totally hear you on that. People only ever remember the mistakes the Globes make but awards history would be much poorer without them given the amount of cool shows and performances they have honored that others didn't. because, again, they have a point of view. and their own pecularities of taste.
peggy sue -- it's like when people write articles every year about how Madonna is irrelevant. Why you still so pressed about her then cuz i read this same article the year before and the year before and the year before stretching back to the 1990s.
doodle -- yeah i dont get that either. film twitter hates on the critics choice all the time and now suddenly "maybe the critics choice will step up"...
Perfectly said, Nathaniel. The hypocrisy is staggering. Of course sexism and lack of diversity need addressing, but surely not like this. It's mob mentality in fancy clothes.
And I hear a lot about "Film Twitter" and it sounds like a horrible place.
I hope the Globes get their act in order, of course. And then I hope they can bounce back. They have such history and many really impressive choices across the years.
Good post, as always, Nathaniel. I was rather discombobulated by the sight of a Black journalist on CNN talking with Christine Amanpour a while back repeatedly saying the problem with the Globes is they "have no African AMERICAN members."
THEY HAVE NO *AMERICAN* MEMBERS!!! They're the Hollywood FOREIGN Press! If you're going to criticize a group at least get your facts straight. A Black American no doubt knows the difference between an African American and a Black person living in another country who is not and never was an American citizen. (Which is what the HFPA would have to bring in. So she was basically indicating she had no idea of what she was talking about when she criticized the group.
Of course it would be kind of tough to get a black African member (who would surely be a token) since it's probably pretty difficult for a country in Africa to pay a black journalist enough money to live full time in America and report back to that country for a living. Does the largest newspaper in Kenya really have the budget to pay for a Hollywood correspondent? Maybe. Maybe not.
Does the HFPA have people of color? Of course. This "no Black member" snag is a weird thing to be upset about and it indicates no knowledge of how race works outside of the United States. I guess they'll boot out their non-Black French member and bring in an Afro-French person. Fine. Life's tough white French person. I won't cry a tear for you, but it that really going to lead to racial justice across the world?
Thank you for this article. A few years down the line and I hope we'll have the clarity to look back at all the 'correction' that has been actively pushed for and brought about these past couple of years has been nothing but a shift in power structures. The corrupting aspect of power still remains.... Everyone just wants to be heard making the 'right' noise or adding to the woke chorus to the point where the only virtue left is signalling it. Nothing sadder than when the oppressed become the bully and Nietzsche wins.
Also, isn't this a continuation of the eternal general American problem of always being the center of its own universe and looking at the world through their own gaze? I mean in all the biggest blockbusters everything from alien invasions to terrorist attacks happened in the US or if not the the US saved the world. So, the inability to see diversity beyond the black-white American perspective isn't suprising.
I agree
I'm pretty sure Brendan Fraser accused a Globes bigwig of sexually assaulting him at an event.
Thank you for articulating this. I've been so confused as to the timing of this anti-GG backlash, and none of the media coverage I've seen has clarified the "why now" - but you've confirmed my suspicions that there is no good reason other than self-servingly conveniently timed virtue signaling. Sigh.
I have my issues with HFPA, but the hypocrisy of this (delayed) reaction is most definitely eye-rolling. I'm not even sure what it gets any of the players since no one outside our little sphere really cares or will think better of Hollywood for it.
Seems like the HFPA is being made something of a sacrificial lamb even if their sins are basically the sins of all (even if they were kind of bad at covering it up).
I bet the ultimate endgame of this is that the HFPA just sells the rights to the name "Golden Globes" to some other organization (possibly with NBC acting as a broker) who then proceeds to put on "The Golden Globes" with most normies being none the wiser about the fact that it's being handed out by different people.
@ Dan
What exactly do you mean by this? Please elaborate.
working stiff -- i shouldn't speak for Dan but i'm assuming he's referring to the fact that every country has different racial demographics and different history of race relations and different areas of concern. They even define "race" differently in some places. The US is more racially diverse than a lot of other countries but we seem to think "the world" looks exactly like our melting pot but it doesn't.
@ Nathaniel
Perhaps, but American systemic racism was originally a European import, so unless "outside of the United States" is referring to notions of race (not necessarily racism) within Asia or Africa I don't know what Dan means. But I'd like to.
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That's all I want to see from that sham of an awards ceremony. This is for Music and other shitty films and performances being nominated. The moment they gave Pia Zadora an award for her shitty performance in a shitty film. Its fate was sealed yet it took a long fucking time for the organization to crumble. I will applaud its deletion!
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@Working stiff. Basically what Nathaniel says. Adding to that, I'd say that countries that never had a history of chattel slavery or other forms of racial abuse don't necessarily feel a need to atone for sins never committed by their ancestors or in their "national interest." Therefore they, understandably aren't so concerned with issues of representation and diversity based on specific races. A Finn or Norwegian might have no reason for getting up in the morning saying "we need to get some Black people in our group!" On the other hand, they might have other progressive goals (not forcing people to retire when they hit 70, hiring disabled people--did the LA Times even ask if the HFPA has disabled people in their membership?) that Americans wouldn't be thinking about. We can't always assume American concerns are global concerns. That's myopic and xenophobic.
@thevoid99: you are stupid as fuck. :)
Isn't Tom Cruise also in a religious group that is mostly white and harassed plenty of women?
When will Scarlett Johansson step away Woody Allen like the rest of Hollywood? Didn't Warner Bros have another big abuse issue on their superhero project they need to deal first? Why did certain director and actor keep coming to golden globes ceremony and after parties even though they have so many bad personal experiences with golden globes? Oh and I have never seen any black or Asian PR from certain PR companies and they are having problems with Golden Globes? And the Oscar pundits on internet who used to talk, watch and write about Golden Globes all the time, all of sudden Golden Globes is worthless? Can't believe golden globes suddenly become the most racist thing in Hollywood!
Great piece of writing!!!
This piece is totally on point - I feel your combo of cynicism and sadness. One of the things I particularly appreciate about the Globes in the increasingly homogeneous awards season is that it awards both film and TV in a single ceremony. I used to care way more about the film noms but in this golden age of TV, complete with movie stars giving some of their greatest performances on the small screen, I’m sometimes more excited about the TV categories and it’s refreshing to have them given equal weight. Plus, it ups the star-power and variety at the tables for maximum viewer pleasure. I will definitely miss that.
Just move this telecast to cable TV (TBS/TNT) were the SAG Awards are mitigated. That way, if you get a decent host (Ricky), he can say whatever he feels like without being bleeped & perhaps we can see the nominees at their boozy worst.
Also-move the Academy Awards to a decent channel (TCM!)-an outlet that appreciates film art/history/achievement.
Long live the globes !
Cancel culture is really infiltrating every form of art and expression,People are told they are free and empowered and free of constraints but this sort of thing makes everyone more oppressed in my opinion.
Dan - I guess that was Clayton Davis who is in a mission to personally destroy the Globes and everythign that doesn't match his bubble. Same goes for Mark Harris who is pure facade.
The whole awards system has been falling apart for years and people who “love” awards have cheered most of the deteriorative decisions. I don’t really know what to say except that the 00’s were the last true heyday of this stuff.
So I voted for Boseman and Day instead of Hopkins and McDormand -my personal favorites- and I'm still called a racist?
Still better than the Critics Choice, but even supposedly decent writers jump on that teat despite being the antithesis of who they are.
We'll always have Claudio.....
They made some dumb decisions, but I will always love the fact that they honour comedic performances. The Oscars are often hyper focused on dour and depressing films/performances, so it was a nice change. Stone in Easy A, Crystal and Ryan in When Harry Met Sally, Daniels/Griffith in Something Wild are some great examples of that. I hope they still release a shortlist this year. If you don't fall in line in modern day Hollywood, you are cut off. Speaking of diversity - we did see Whoopi and Angela Bassett collect gongs for lead roles way before the Academy decided to award Halle Berry.
Film stars are now so detached from reality that they don't realise their time will be soon over.
NBC should honor any broadcast contract or negotiatw their way out of the agreement. HFPA should only change if they want to. Will the bend to keep the star attention or be steadfast with integrity? I've seen folks choose lesser group membership such as Critics Choice over integrity, so I predict they will bend.
Hollywood will destroy itself in order to feel a fleeting rush of self-righteousness.
This is so refreshing to read. Thanks for taking the time to evaluate a few facets of this issue rather than screaming about one side
I totally agree with this article... and most of what other writers here are expressing.
Good riddance! Institutions come and go. The Globes were eternally corrupt and racist, and people are clamoring for their return for tradition? B/c they rewarded comediesss???? Please. Get rid of the useless Critics Choice next. SAG was ruined by AFTRA. The BAFTAs are notoriously racist too. It's all a scam, and the studios crying foul now are the biggest hypocrites when they've ALL benefited from the briberies for YEARS AND YEARS! The Oscars are out the door next. They're nothing without an audience. Maybe they'll give press releases of the winners from the Academy museum or something...
fadhil - please refer to the Good Morning! Post. A commenter elucidated how a westerner cannot comment without heavy vitriol. Maybe you should find a film blog that suits your easily stated ideologys or show tolerance. Thank you for listening in advance.
TOM, many of us do not subscribe to Cable - they can move it to CBS or ABC - it's for the best.
There are people in 2021 who don't have basic cable? Wow.
I guess you don't want to attract haters but this should be available to retweet.
The hypocrisy of criticism towards the Globes is ridiculous. Where was the celebrity and studio outrage during award season. No one boycotted. Is NBC/Universal that diverse? What about the studios that tried to buy off Globe voters?
Although a part of does think "Justice for Insecure and IMDY".
pam -- i tweeted out a thread about this (with the link) here ---> https://twitter.com/nathanielr/status/1392236020712841218
@ Dan
RE: Finland and Norway. The Dano-Norwegian slave trade lasted until the early 19th century, and racism in contemporary Finland is widely documented. Last year, for example, the office of Finland's Non-Discrimination Ombudsman reported that discrimination and racism impact widely on the lives of people of African descent in Finland whether in schools or at the workplace; an earlier study conducted by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights showed that people of African descent living in Finland encounter the most racist harassment among the 12 EU countries included in the survey.
So saying that
does not let (m)any European HFPA member nations off the hook.
I feel Europeans are more sad to let them go than Americans.
"I read the news today, oh boy" Globes cancellation isn't a tragedy, but I will miss them.
Thank you Nathaniel for pointing out some of the downsides. No one has really mentioned the
best part of these awards:
Crowd shots + boozy speeches + fun had by all.
The mix of film and tv stars made for intriguing table companions (memes!)
Great speeches by Meryl Streep (remember when she won for Adaptation, and her lifetime achievement speech) Jodi Foster, Oprah, and too many others to mention.
Pity we lose all that fun.