Golden Globes | A decisive return for the ceremony

The Golden Globes will play their future this Tuesday, when they return to the air after several scandals. All eyes will be riveted on this splendorous evening, not to know its winners, but to see how its rehabilitation operation succeeds.

Do you need your memory refreshed on the pre-Oscars gala precipitous decline? His descent into hell began in January 2021, when, in particular, an investigation by the Los Angeles Times revealed that none of the 87 members of the jury behind the event were black.

The daily also accused the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) of corruption, since around thirty jurors had, in 2019, accepted a VIP invitation from Paramount studios to attend the filming ofEmily in Parisa series they subsequently nominated in a few major categories, despite mixed reviews.

Faced with these revelations, the NBC network disconnected the ceremony. The HFPA then pledged to enlist black journalists, as well as to strengthen its rules of conduct, to avoid conflicts of interest.

Things promised, things (almost) due. Two years later, Golden Globes “transformed” find the antenna, but all is not returned to the beautiful fixed so far. The HFPA recently acknowledged that it has yet to meet its diversity goals. Currently, 9% of black people participate in the vote.

Despite everything, the communication strategist and director of the Montreal office of Edelman, Martine St-Victor, believes “that the effort must be recognized”. “The Golden Globes should serve as an example of an organization that can do better,” she said. Denouncing is good, but afterwards, we have to give people the space so that they can rehabilitate themselves and correct their mistakes. As consumers and viewers, we have to be open to giving a chance. »

question marks

We know the host of the 80^are Golden Globes (comedian Jerrod Carmichael), just as we know the identity of the finalists (the Irish drama The Banshees of Inisherin leads on the movie side; american comedy Abbott Elementary dominates on television), but a few hours before the opening of the prestigious (?) appointment, several questions remain unanswered.

Which stars will participate? Which will boycott it? The mystery hovers. Certainly, it would be surprising to see Tom Cruise there, not only because he was not quoted for Top Gun: Maverickbut also because he did not hesitate to return his trophies, in 2021, when the whole affair broke out.

Brendan Fraser won’t be there either. In an interview with the magazine QG in November, the actor, selected for The Whalerecalled that in 2018, when he accused Philip Berk, president of the Golden Globes, of sexually assaulting him in 2003, the HFPA kept him in the job.

According to a press release sent by the organization last week, some personalities have nevertheless confirmed their presence, in particular to present trophies. We are talking about Ana Gasteyer, Colman Domingo, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Nicole Byer, Regina Hall, Salma Hayek, Quentin Tarantino and Tracy Morgan, far from the “A” to which we had been accustomed. Finalists Ana de Armas, who plays Marilyn Monroe in Blonde hairJennifer Coolidge (The White Lotus), Hilary Swank (Alaska Daily), Jamie Lee Curtis (Everything Everywhere All at Once), Jenna Ortega (wednesday) and Niecy Nash (Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story) are also part of the group, as are Eddie Murphy and Ryan Murphy who will receive tribute awards.

“Some stars may want to wait to see how things are going to say: ‘OK, next year, I’ll go,’ says Martine St-Victor. It can also allow younger generations to take up more space. We will have to see…”

Martine St-Victor believes that beyond the big names who will or will not be seated on the floor of the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, it will be necessary to monitor the advertisements that will be broadcast during the three-hour program. “Advertisers can make a difference by promoting diversity, inclusion and equity programs,” says the communications strategist.

Finally, the tone of the gala will also be under observation. Jerrod Carmichael will probably not try to imitate Ricky Gervais and scratch the entire Hollywood elite, but he will hardly be able to ignore the controversy.

“We shouldn’t make it the epicenter of the gala, because that’s not why we’re watching, but we still want to know the changes that the organization has made,” said Martine St-Victor. They must show us that they have heard the denunciations. If they want us to believe in it, they have to explain their approach to us, without however making it a TED Talk style conference. »

While we are seeing a general drop in the ratings for ceremonies of the genre in the United States, the pressure surrounding this new edition of the Golden Globes is stronger than ever, especially since nothing is guaranteed for 2024 since their contract with NBC expires this year.

NBC and Citytv broadcast the 80^e Golden Globes ceremony this Tuesday at 8 p.m.