In a surprising turn of events, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the voting group behind the Golden Globe Awards, has been bought by Eldridge Industries amid a swirling storm of controversy. The sale comes in response to mounting criticism surrounding the association’s ethical practices and the striking lack of diversity in its ranks.
Co-owner of Dick Clark Productions (DCP), Eldridge Industries, announced their acquisition of the Golden Globe assets yesterday. Despite the significant organizational reshuffle, DCP will continue to oversee the awards telecast, with an increased focus on enhancing the Globes’ global viewership.
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This development is seen as a direct response to the mounting backlash the HFPA faced over its lack of diversity and ethical issues, which led NBC, the US television network, to shun the Golden Globes ceremony in 2022. A Los Angeles Times investigation in 2021 brought to light that the HFPA had no Black journalists in its ranks, and some members were reportedly soliciting favours from celebrities and movie studios and making sexist and racist remarks.
In an attempt to repair its reputation, the HFPA broadened its membership base and implemented new ethics policies. Eldridge Industries Chairman Todd Boehly aims to remodel the nonprofit organization into a for-profit venture, where the international entertainment reporters will become salaried employees. According to a spokesperson, all of the 310 current voters will be eligible to cast ballots for the upcoming ceremony in January 2024.
The Golden Globes were broadcast by NBC again in 2023; however, no network has been confirmed for the 2024 ceremony. Although approved by California’s attorney general, the financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed.
The news is based on a report by the Malay Mail.
