Golden Globes and the Zeitgeist of the Times

After months of modifications by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the Golden Globe Awards Ceremony returned this January. 

In 2022, the nature of the award ceremony underwent drastic changes. Due to the pandemic, the show took place over Zoom, with a limited in-person attendance. However, the most unexpected disruption occurred when NBC, the Golden Globes’s main broadcasting service, did not air the show.

In February, 2021, the Los Angeles Times revealed that while the HFPA consisted of ninety members who represented over fifty countries, none were Black. This conclusion resulted in backlash, not only from the public, but also from actors and television companies affiliated with the awards. Tom Cruise, for example, returned all three of his Golden Globe Awards, and NBC and other broadcasting programs didn’t televise the show. 

In direct response to the LA Times exposé and widespread backlash, the HFPA voted to approve necessary measures to reform the organization, including an addition of changes to its bylaws. Because they lacked broadcasting options and general support, the Golden Globes did not know if the show would return to the award season staple it once was. Despite the uncertainty, the Golden Globes released the 2023 list of nominees. 

As the 80th Golden Globes grew nearer, a sense of normalcy returned when NBC agreed to broadcast the award show. With significant alterations having been made within the organization – notably a 50% increase in members with a focus on including underrepresented groups – the Globes expected viewership to grow from the previous year. However, the 2023 Golden Globes only brought in 6.3 million viewers, a drastic drop from 2020’s 18 million viewers. This can be attributed to the lingering backlash from 2021. 

The push for organizational reform among award shows is not unique to the Golden Globes. Both the Oscar and Grammy awards have received criticism in the past for the lack of diversity among nominees and board members. Over the past few years, the standard for diverse ethnic representation has changed, creating a culture of constant ethical improvement and accountability. These advancements of equity in the form of inclusion continue to shape the environment of the entertainment industry, and serve as reflections of the social zeitgeist.