It seems ludicrous in 2021 that a group of adults who have held a position of influence in Hollywood for nearly 80 years should be ordered to be less racist, but here we are. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association—the shadowy organisation that dishes out the Golden Globes… and doesn’t have a single Black member—is finally promising to do better after decades of dubious conduct.
The HFPA board of directors, according to The Hollywood Reporter, sent a letter to its members on Monday detailing a massive collection of “structural improvements” they intend to make to the organization, with a particular emphasis on diversity:
“The proposal of the board, now endorsed by the full membership, calls on the organization to admit ‘at least 20 new members in 2021, with a specific focus on recruiting Black members,’ and with ‘a goal of increasing the membership by 50% over the next 18 months.’ It also eliminates the requirement that HFPA members must reside in Southern California, expanding eligibility to any qualified journalist living in the U.S. who works for a foreign outlet.
In addition, they’ve outlined “a new code of conduct” for members in regards to press trips and other promotional perks that have long been seen as a (rather successful) way to sway voters. After being nominated for Best Television Series and Best Performance by an Actress for lead Lily Collins, the Netflix series Emily in Paris became a lightning rod in the debate over “buying” votes when it was revealed that some of the organization’s representatives were treated to a lavish Parisian production visit. And one of the show’s own writers chastised the HFPA for nominating it over Michaela Coel’s I Can Destroy You (correctly).
Of course, the fact that none of the HFPA’s nearly 90 members are Black is even more concerning. Phil Berk, a member of the organization for nearly half a century and its former president, was fired in April after sending an extremely racist note. Berk was given the boot after groping Brendan Fraser at an official HFPA event in 2003 and receiving no punishment. (Berk, by the way, fully confessed to it and simply laughed it off as a joke.)
While the organization’s plans seem to be enough for NBCUniversal and Dick Clark Productions, who broadcast and produce the annual Golden Globe Awards, respectively, only time will tell whether the organization can truly turn a corner.
