Tom Cruise has returned his three Golden Globe awards in protest against the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, joining a growing list of industry figures distancing themselves from the organisation. The actor, who won for Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire and Magnolia, acted after an exposé highlighted allegations of corruption and a lack of black members within the HFPA.
NBC has also announced it will not air the 2022 Golden Globes ceremony. The network, which has broadcast the event since 1996 for around $60m a year, said it believed the HFPA was committed to reform but needed time to implement changes. “We are hopeful we will be in a position to air the show in January 2023,” a statement read.
The HFPA responded with a detailed timeline of proposed reforms, including diversifying membership and ending the acceptance of promotional items from studios. “Implementing transformational changes as quickly – and as thoughtfully – as possible remains the top priority,” it said.
The backlash follows a Los Angeles Times investigation that revealed ethical lapses and barriers faced by black journalists. Since the article, former HFPA president Phillip Berk was expelled for sharing an article that referred to Black Lives Matter as a “racist hate group”.
Scarlett Johansson, Netflix and WarnerMedia have urged the industry to take action, while nearly 100 PR firms have said they will refrain from HFPA-sanctioned events until issues are addressed. Time’s Up criticised the reforms as “window-dressing platitudes”, calling for better representation across racial, ethnic and gender backgrounds.
