NBC will not air the 2022 Golden Globes, the network said on Monday, the latest — and arguably largest — fallout for host organization the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which has been under fire for its lack of membership diversity.
“We continue to believe that the HFPA is committed to meaningful reform. However, change of this magnitude takes time and work, and we feel strongly that the HFPA needs time to do it right,” the company said in a statement. “As such, NBC will not air the 2022 Golden Globes.”
“Assuming the organization executes on its plan, we are hopeful we will be in a position to air the show in January 2023,” the company continued.
That statement includes the entire NBCUniversal family of platforms, a person with knowledge of the plan told TheWrap, like streaming service Peacock and cable TV. With the recent bad publicity faced by the HFPA, a growing wave of studio boycotts, time constraints and now no TV network, it is unlikely there will be a 2022 Golden Globe Awards.
Netflix and Amazon cut ties with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association last week. WarnerMedia, which owns HBO, Turner and Warner Bros., jumped aboard the boycott earlier on Monday. Lionsgate and Starz also announced it was “withdrawing from all HFPA activities.”
A group of 100-plus PR firms that pulled their clients from HFPA events on Monday said they “applaud NBC’s decision to cancel the 2022 Golden Globes, allowing the HFPA the time it needs to thoughtfully reform its management, culture and practices. The depth and scope of change necessary requires time and sustained focus.”
Time’s Up and GLAAD both have stated that the HFPA’s own plan for reform — which includes increasing its membership by 50% within the next two years — does not go far enough.
Time’s Up called the turn of events “a defining moment for Hollywood” in a statement on Monday.
“Today, we have the opportunity to recognize that, by speaking up against one powerful but deeply flawed awards system, we can begin to reimagine a more equitable industry,” said Tina Tchen, president and CEO of Time’s Up Foundation.
“It took the collective voices of individual actors, creators, and a united front of over 100 publicists — along with the powerful moral leadership of companies like Netflix, Amazon, and WarnerMedia — to make this happen. Together, we demanded an awards ceremony that is fully inclusive, transparent, and respectful. Courage and leadership made a difference.”
On Thursday, it was announced that a majority of HFPA’s 86 members voted for an overhaul of the organization that is to include steps toward inclusion. HFPA has been under heavy scrutiny over the past few weeks following a Los Angeles Times story that called out the organization for having no Black members, along with other institutional and structural problems.
“This moment is about more than Hollywood,” Tchen said in the statement. “It is about the courage it takes to confront all of the problematic systems that are right in front of us — in every industry and institution and across society. Because that is what it will take to truly uproot racism, sexism, and homophobia and build safer, more equitable workplaces for everyone.”
On Saturday, actress Scarlett Johansson called out “certain members” of the HFPA for asking “sexist” questions at press conferences.
Despite the giant declines felt by most awards shows this season, the Golden Globes deliver a relatively large audience to NBC. This year, the socially-distanced awards show settled for 6.9 million TV viewers.