Celebrities could boycott the Golden Globes if they don’t change

U.S.

More than 100 Hollywood public relations firms that collectively represent the majority of television and movie stars said they will advise their clients not to attend the Golden Globes if the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) English) does not commit to “transformative change”.

In a letter sent Monday night to the HFPA, public relations firms said the association, which awards the Golden Globes, must reform itself or many of the more prominent actors will boycott its events.

We call on the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to swiftly manifest profound and lasting change to end the long-standing exclusionary behavior and widespread practice of discriminatory conduct, unprofessionalism, ethical impropriety, and alleged financial corruption endemic to the HFPA, funded by the HFPA. Dick Clark Productions, MRC, NBCUniversal and Comcast. To reflect how urgent and necessary we feel these actions are, we cannot advocate for our clients to participate in HFPA events or interviews while we await their explicit plans and dates for transformative change, ”the publicists wrote.

The message is the latest blow in a developing scandal for the embattled association. Days before last month’s Golden Globes, The Los Angeles Times reported that among the group’s 87 voting members there are no blacks. Other reports have also raised questions about the conduct and ethics of the HFPA, a group of little-known international journalists who profit from NBC’s annual broadcast.

Photo: ap

The pressure on the HFPA has continued, even as the awards season has moved on to the Oscars. Time’s Up, the activist group that debuted on the 2018 Globes red carpet when all the stars wore black, has lobbied the HFPA for more than just statements. “We need to see specific details, dates for a change, and firm commitments,” the group said previously.

On Monday Time’s Up reiterated that position and supported the public relations letter.

We agree that we will not accept more than a transparent and meaningful change. The whole world is watching, ”wrote Tina Tchen, President and CEO of Time’s Up.

During the Golden Globes broadcast in February, members of the HFPA promised reform. In response to the letter from the public relations firms, the press association responded with an outline of various initiatives it is taking and accepted that it has work to do.

“As a sign of our commitment, the board of directors has unanimously approved a plan to increase the membership to a minimum of 100 members this year, with the requirement that at least 13% of the membership be black journalists. We should have done more and before, ”said the group.

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