‘Virtually non-existent’: Huge problem with the Golden Globes
With accusations of bribery, brutal snubs, and bizarre nominations, the Golden Globes has been plagued with a string of scandals.
Golden Globes
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With accusations of bribery, brutal snubs, and bizarre nomination choices, the Golden Globes has been plagued with a string of scandals.
Deux Moi was the latest to shed light on the Globes’ checkered history, with one source saying the awards’ credibility was “virtually non-existent”.
The Golden Globes are run by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, a non-profit organisation made up of 90 journalists.
In a post published by the influential insider gossip account, the source alleged that, unlike the Oscars, the “rules and regulations around Globes campaigning is virtually non-existent”.
The anonymous source was described as a “seasoned awards/in-house studio publicist”, according to Deux Moi.
“Gifts, trips, letters, personalised messaging … is not only routine but expected,” the source continued.
“The Globes are an excellent example of ‘pay to play’ awards. Any person involved in the awards game will tell you the same.”
The Los Angeles Times claimed members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association were “lavished with gifts, dinners and star-studded parties” to sway their votes.
Nominations for this year’s Globes caused huge controversy last month when critically-acclaimed drama I May Destroy You was ignored, while Emily in Paris – Netflix’s fluffy, viral series starring Lily Collins – was recognised. Not even one of the show’s own writers could believe it was nominated.
In a piece forThe Guardian, Emily in Paris writer Deborah Copaken said she was stunned that “a white American selling luxury whiteness” received nominations.
The Emily in Paris effect sparked a racially-charged debate after I May Destroy You creator, writer and star Michaela Coel was unfairly overlooked for her groundbreaking BBC drama. Issa Rae’s hit black-led HBO comedy series Insecure was also snubbed.
Emily in Paris was, however, nominated for Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy) and Collins for Best Actress.
In a piece titled “Golden Globes voters in tumult: Members accuse Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. of self-dealing, ethical lapses”,The Los Angeles Times revealed other damning allegations of how Golden Globes nominations could be bought.
Emily in Paris producers flew 30 members of the HFPA to Paris when the series was shooting in 2019, where they stayed at the five-star Peninsula Paris hotel.
“They treated us like kings and queens,” one attendee told the Times. The newspaper previously described the Golden Globes as engaging in a “culture of corruption”.
While the Emily in Paris scandal is one of the most eyebrow-raising to hit the Globes in recent years, it’s not the first time the awards have courted attention.
Ahead of Monday’s virtual event, these are other scandals and notable moments, spanning Meryl Streep’s anti-Trump speech to Renée Zellweger missing her win.
RICKY GERVAIS
The British comic took aim at Charlie Sheen, Angelina Jolie, Cher, and a “certain famous Scientologist” when he hosted the awards in 2011 – one of several hosting appearances which sparked controversy.
“There were a lot of big films that didn’t get nominated this year,” Gervais said onstage, in his catty opening monologue.
“Nothing for Sex and the City 2. I thought for sure the Golden Globes for special effects would go to the team that airbrushed that poster,” Gervais laughed.
“Great job! Girls, we know how old you are. I saw one of you in an episode of Bonanza.”
MERYL STREEP
Hollywood legend Meryl Streep was recognised with the Cecil B DeMille Award at the 2016 Golden Globes, and used her acceptance speech to take aim at the then-Trump administration.
Streep said Trump’s mocking of a disabled New York Times reporter “broke my heart”.
She also touched on Trump’s controversial immigration policies, saying Hollywood was made up of overseas talent and if he banned them from entering America “you’ll have nothing to watch but football and mixed martial arts, which are not the arts”.
JODIE FOSTER
She is one of Hollywood’s legendary actors and Jodie Foster used her Golden Globes acceptance speech to come out in 2013 … kind of.
While accepting her Cecil B. DeMille Award, Foster told the crowd: “I already did my coming out a thousand years ago”.
“I guess I have a sudden urge to say something that I’ve never been able to air in public that I’m a little nervous about — but maybe not as nervous as my publicist,” Foster said.
“So I’m just going to put it out there, loud and proud, right? I’m going to need your support on this. I am, uh — “
“I’m single,” Foster laughed.
OPRAH
The talk show queen, actor and producer received a standing ovation with her Golden Globes speech, in which she spoke out about sexual abuse.
“For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dared to speak their truth to the power of those men, but their time is up,” Winfrey said onstage.
“I want tonight to express gratitude to all the women who have endured years of abuse and assault because they, like my mother, had children to feed and bills to pay and dreams to pursue.
“So I want all the girls watching here now to know that a new day is on the horizon.”
There were tears and cheers as the inspirational speech finished, with social media erupting with claims Oprah was making a veiled hint at a possible presidential campaign.
It was a powerful night for women all around, who all wore black to protest sexual harassment and raise awareness for Time’s Up, an initiative started by Hollywood in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
RENEE ZELLWEGER
When Nurse Betty star Renée Zellweger won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy in 2001, she nearly missed her moment.
Zellweger was in the bathrooms wiping “lipstick off my teeth” when Hugh Grant announced her as the winner.
“Renee? Where is she?,” Grant said awkwardly onstage as he waited for her to appear.
“She’s in the bathroom … OK. What do we do?”
Zellweger then made a dramatically late entrance, saying, “Oh my god I had lipstick on my teeth.”
CANCELLED
The lavish event was cancelled in 2008 due the Writers Guild strike. The HFPA made the drastic call to cancel the awards ceremony after the nominated actors said they would not cross the Writers Guild picket lines to attend the ceremony.
“We are all very disappointed that our traditional awards ceremony will not take place this year and that millions of viewers worldwide will be deprived of seeing many of their favourite stars celebrating 2007’s outstanding achievements in motion pictures and television,” Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Jorge Camara said at the time.
It was replaced with a — very boring — televised press conference announcing the winners.
The Golden Globes will air on Foxtel’s Fox Arena channel on March 1 at 12pm AEDT.
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