Golden Globes Will Return In 2023

The Golden Globes will return in 2023 following a year of controversy and action taken against injustice around the awards and those involved. The 2022 ceremony was dropped by the broadcaster NBC as a result of the wide-ranging issues and problems spanning racism, sexism, favouritism, and questions of interests which led to the boycott.

Changes for the Golden Globes 2023

As previously reported by TheatreArtLife, the 2022 ceremony was a private affair following abhorrent behaviours which were investigated and brought to life by a report by the LA Times last year. The Golden Globes organisers were revealed to have accepted gifts from film studios with motion pictures that were under consideration, as well as the accusation that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) was racist and sexist, as the group had not included a Black member for 20 years.

The changes have worked to address these severe shortcomings, and the following has happened:

• There is now a ban on members of the HFPA accepting gifts from the studios.
• There have been 21 new members to the group, including six Black members.
• The HFPA has welcomed over 100 voters which also includes people located internationally and not just in the USA.

Despite these changes, many say that there is still much work to be done, and that the efforts do not go far enough in making meaningful action felt. NBC have taken on the contract for broadcasting the awards, however only as a one-year deal, demonstrating that the network is very much playing it by ear for The Golden Globes 2023, which also happens to be the 80^th anniversary of the ceremony. Upon the news being announced that NBC would welcome the event back after previously hosting every year since 1996, chairman of entertainment networks at NBCUniversal Frances Berwick announced:

“We recognise the HFPA’s commitment to ongoing change and look forward to welcoming back the Golden Globes to NBC for its landmark 80th anniversary in January 2023.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, it is rumoured that NBC will not work with The Golden Globes again following the 2023 ceremony, and this sentiment is echoed with many in the industry – it appears that the reputation of the HFPA has been damaged beyond repair, with it recently coming to light that the recent acquisition of the group by Todd Boehly (the billionaire owner of Chelsea Football Club) includes a deal that will see the original members receive payment of £66,000/$75,000 per annum for their vote.

Additionally, Mr Boehly also owns Dick Clark Productions, who produce The Golden Globes, is a stakeholder of Cain International who are associated with the ceremony’s venue The Beverly Hilton hotel, as well as The Hollywood Reporter.

While the boycott by many artists and professionals last year saw several resignations, and Tom Cruise return three Golden Globes he had previously won, it will be interesting to see if meaningful reform can really happen. The award previously had the reputation of being second only to the Oscars, and is now tarnished. Whether this is beyond repair, or can be mended is yet to be seen.

The 80th Golden Globe awards will be broadcast on 10^th January 2023 on NBC.

Also by Michelle Sciarrotta: