The Golden Globes returns to TV after being roiled by years of allegations of racism, corruption, and sexual assault

• The Golden Globes was embroiled in scandal following allegations of racism, corruption, and sexual assault.
• The organization behind the awards ceremony added 103 new voters in an effort to increase diversity.

The Golden Globes, once among the most revered awards shows in Hollywood, is back on Tuesday, January 10, after an attempt to clean up its image following allegations of racism, corruption, and sexual assault.

Dating back to 1944, the Globes are run by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, a non-profit organization comprising a small group of journalists who cover the entertainment industry.

The HFPA was embroiled in scandal after a Los Angeles Times exposé in 2021 unearthed unethical behavior and a lack of racial diversity in the organization. Following the investigation, major studios like Netflix, Amazon, and WarnerMedia, as well as celebrities like Scarlett Johansson and Tom Cruise boycotted the Globes, calling for change.

NBC, which had helped the Globes achieve its prominent status, announced in May 2021 that it would not air the ceremony the following year.

After a tumultuous two years of attempts to shore up its credibility, the Golden Globes are back. But lingering controversy and waning viewership of awards shows have some people questioning whether these efforts will be enough.

Allegations of racism, corruption, and sexual assault

The HFPA had no Black members among its 87 members and had not inducted one in nearly two decades, the Times found in 2021. The findings fueled criticism of the organization for its omission of Black-led films and TV shows like the critically acclaimed "Judas and the Black Messiah" and "I May Destroy You."

The Golden Globes isn't the only award show to be criticized for a lack of diversity, as evidenced by the #OscarsSoWhite campaign that first began in 2015.

At the 2021 Globes ceremony, which took place just seven days after the Times published its exposé, the HFPA vowed to increase diversity within its ranks.

"We celebrate the work of artists from around the globe," vice president Helen Hoehne said at the event. "We recognize we have our own work to do. Black representation is vital. We must have Black journalists in our organization."

But just over a month after it announced its diversity initiatives, the HFPA was thrust into scandal again when the Times reported that Philip Berk, a member of the organization and former eight-time president, wrote in an email to HFPA staff criticizing Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors and calling BLM a "racist hate movement."

The HFPA expelled Berk, who had previously been accused of sexual assault by actor Brendan Fraser, who said Berk groped his butt at a 2003 HFPA luncheon. (The organization later issued a statement that concluded the incident "was intended to be taken as a joke and not as a sexual advance," GQ reported.)

The HFPA was also accused of harboring a "culture of corruption," according to Norwegian journalist Kjersti Flaa in an antitrust lawsuit against the organization, cited by the Times in its 2021 exposé. The lawsuit was dismissed in November 2020.

HFPA members were allowed to accept lavish perks from the studios and networks they wrote about, including Netflix's "Emily in Paris." Despite an initial lukewarm reception from critics, the show received two Golden Globes nominations in 2021.

Efforts to change

The HFPA has taken steps to increase diversity within its ranks. The organization added 103 new international voters to its 96 members, according to a December press release announcing Golden Globes nominations.

"This diverse voting group represents 62 different countries around the world. Combined with the current membership, the total Golden Globe Awards voting body is now 52% female, 51.8% racially and ethnically diverse, with 19.6% Latinx, 12.1% Asian, 10.1% Black, and 10.1% Middle Eastern," the press release stated.

Comedian Jerrod Carmichael will be hosting the Globes this year, becoming the second Black American host in the award show's 80-year history.

After a one-year hiatus, NBC announced in September 2022 that it would resume airing the ceremony (the 2022 Globes were held without fanfare in a private ceremony).

"We recognize the HFPA's commitment to ongoing change and look forward to welcoming back the Golden Globes to NBC for its landmark 80th anniversary in January 2023," said NBCUniversal entertainment chair Frances Berwick in a press statement.

Will the changes be enough?

The changes may not be enough to restore the prestige of the Golden Globes.

Public interest in award ceremonies appears to be waning across the board. Viewership of the 2022 Oscars was down 52% from 2016, while the Emmy Awards and the MTV Movie and TV Awards saw 31% and 67% decreases in viewers, respectively.

Some celebrities are still skipping the Globes. Fraser, who received his first Golden Globe nomination for his role in "The Whale," said he won't attend the ceremony.

"I have more history with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association than I have respect for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association," Fraser told GQ. "My mother didn't raise a hypocrite. You can call me a lot of things, but not that."

Tom Cruise, who returned his three Globes to the HFPA amid the controversy, is also unlikely to attend, Variety reported. The actor stars in "Top Gun: Maverick," which is nominated for Best Picture this year.