The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) is going downhill from here. After Scarlett Johansson and Mark Ruffalo’s call for a boycott as well as Netflix, Amazon and Warner Media refusing to work with them, and NBC‘s refusal to broadcast the 2022 Golden Globes, actor Tom Cruise has made a radical decision to return his three Golden Globes awards.
The move was made in protest at the lack of diversity within the HFPA. The controversy began in March following a Los Angeles Times report that the organization had no black journalists among its 87 members. This information was revealed after the outcry over their nominations yet again.
The HFPA’s selection process was heavily criticized when the nominations were announced.
Many professionals and spectators regretted the absence of acclaimed films and series such as I May Destroy You by and starring Michaela Coel or Da 5 Bloods by Spike Lee, while the series Emily in Paris was nominated in two categories (‘Best Musical or Comedy Series’ and ‘Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Series’).
The awards the actor sent back to the HFPA headquarters are the ones he won for Born on the Fourth of July (Best actor, Drama), Jerry Maguire (Best Actor, Comedy or Musical), and Magnolia (Best Supporting Actor).
In response to this act, director Ava DuVernay posted on Twitter : “That time that Tom Cruise sent his @goldenglobes for ‘Jerry Maguire,’ ‘Magnolia’ and ‘Born on the Fourth of July’ in an actual box to the reception desk of HFPA to stand against their sexist, homophobic, racist practices of exclusion, harassment and bias”.
For its part, the HFPA has published a detailed timetable of proposed changes and a statement.
“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”, it read. “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.”
To be continued.
#Peace.Love.TomCruise
