Reducing Public Attention After a Crisis
The first weekend of 2022 saw the Golden Globes ceremony by The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, but the event was never televised. This year’s Golden Globes events also didn’t have an audience or red carpet. According to the organizers, the event plans were significantly reduced compared to recent years due to the current surge in numbers of the Covid-19 virus.
Reason Behind Decision
According to a statement from the HFPA, the health and safety of everyone were the most important priority for the association. There were a number of precautions that the association took for the grantees and members that attended the event. These precautions included the requirement of proof of vaccination and booster shot, as well as a negative PCR test within 48 hours of the event. All of the attendees also had to be socially distanced and masked while inside the ballroom.
Public Criticism
Last year, NBC announced that it wouldn’t be broadcasting the next Golden Globes Awards. This was after the network received public criticism due to the lack of diversity among the members of the HFPA, as well as due to ethical questions relating to financial benefits. The controversy that NBC and the Golden Globes Awards faced last year ended up motivating both to make some big changes to the association and the awards.
Changes
According to HFPA, in the last year, the association has completely changed its bylaws and implemented other top to bottom changes to its code of conduct. These adjustments involve changes in ethics, governance, equity, inclusion, and membership. Aside from not having guests, a red carpet event, or broadcasting on TV, the studios themselves didn’t officially submit any titles for consideration either. The nominations, as well as their results, were also announced only on social media so that there wouldn’t be any memorable acceptance speeches.
In the last few years, the Golden Globe Awards were watched by millions of people all over the world, and they were often seen as a good predictor for the Academy Awards since they preceded the Oscars in the annual awards season calendar. After the NBC announcement last year, a number of film and TV stars also distanced themselves from the organization behind the awards- the HFPA.
The situation was then followed by an investigation by the Los Angeles Times, which revealed that the HFPA didn’t have any black members, and alleged that many members received and accepted perks that could have swayed their votes.
