Golden Globes Group Promises to Hire Diversity Expert After Backlash

Golden Globes Statuettes (Credit: Shutterstock)

Facing backlash for not having a single Black member among its voting ranks, the group that hands out the Golden Globes is promising “transformational change.”

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association outlined what it called an “immediate action” plan on Saturday, including hiring an independent equity and inclusion consultant to increase diversity in the organization.

“These are the initial steps we will take over the next 60 days and we will carry out further action based on the recommendations that come from these initial reviews and assessments,” the HFPA said in a statement.

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The HFPA faced backlash among Hollywood insiders, including some previous Golden Globes winners and nominees, after a Los Angeles Times investigation revealed questionable ethics and the fact that there wasn’t a single Black person among the organization’s 87 members.

The controversy also made it into last weekend’s broadcast when some winners and presenters called out the organization, and show hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler mocked the group on stage.

The new diversity and inclusion efforts include:
–Hiring an independent expert in diversity to audit HFPA bylaws and
membership requirements
–Mandating anti-racism, unconscious bias education and sexual
harassment training for every member
–Hiring a third-party law firm to ensure that HFPA policies are
aligned with and exceed industry best practices
— Working with that law firm to ensure that any HFPA member, partner,
vendor or artists can report any violation of the group’s ethical standards
or code of conduct with the confidence that it will be fully and fairly
investigated
— Increasing support of internship, mentorship and scholarship
programs for Black and other under-represented students interested in
international journalism.