Time’s Up is calling for changes and increased diversity at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the group that hands out the Golden Globes.
On Friday — just two days before the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards — the advocacy organization launched a #TimesUpGlobes protest on social media, after the HFPA was outed for not having any Black members.
“Hollywood Foreign Press Association: Not a Single Black Member Out of 87,” read an image of a shattered Golden Globe statuette posted on Twitter by Time’s Up.
Related Story: Group That Hands Out Golden Globes Has Zero Black Members
A cosmetic fix isn’t enough. #TIMESUPGlobes #TIMESUP pic.twitter.com/L9tzILjt3i
— TIME'S UP (@TIMESUPNOW) February 26, 2021
The post was immediately shared by a string of Hollywood insiders, including This is Us and Black Panther actor Sterling K. Brown, who will be a presenter at Sunday’s awards.
“To be nominated for a Golden Globe is a tremendous honor. To win one is a dream come true. It can affect the trajectory of an individual’s career… it certainly has with mine,” Brown wrote, before calling out the HFPA. “Eighty seven people wield a tremendous amount of power. For any governing body of a current Hollywood award show to have such a lack of voting representation illustrates a level of irresponsibility that should not be ignored.”
Added Selma director and When They See Us creator Ava DuVernay, “Old news. New energy.”
Love & Basketball and The Old Guard director Gina Prince-Bythewood shared her thoughts on Instagram, writing: “No excuses (there are none). No apologies (we don’t believe you). No empty gestures (cosmetic fixes are not enough). Change the game. #timesupglobes #timesupnow.”
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The HFPA has been in the crosshairs since the Los Angeles Times published an investigative series last weekend alleging financial irregularities at Golden Globes headquarters, and revealing the group doesn’t have a single Black member.
The issues raised in the articles are not new, but the Times backed up its reporting with hard numbers. The paper added that nothing has changed in the HFPA, even after the #OscarsSoWhite controversy led to new rules and increased diversity efforts by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hands out the Oscars.
Amid backlash, the HFPA issued a statement Thursday night pledging to diversify its membership ranks.
“We are fully committed to ensuring our membership is reflective of the communities around the world who love film, TV and the artists inspiring and educating them,” the organization said in its statement. “We understand that we need to bring in Black members, as well as members from other underrepresented backgrounds, and we will immediately work to implement an action plan to achieve these goals as soon as possible.”
The 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards air live on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on NBC.
