As we continue to analyze award show diversity, we are taking a closer look at another prestigious award show: The Golden Globes. While the Academy is not known for its diversity in the executive board or the nominees, the Golden Globes could be regarded as a worse offender. Certain demographics have been completely left out in the decision-making room and it fares worse in terms of winners that are people of color, women, and much more.
Who Chooses the Golden Globe Award Winners?
The Golden Globe Awards were first established in 1944, making them 77 years old, and one of the oldest awards shows. The track record for the Globes has not been a good one, exemplified by a lack of diversity and inclusivity all around. So, who exactly is behind the decision-making? The answer is the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). They are the voting body that casts the final vote on who wins the nominations. The 86 member body has come under heavy fire over the last couple of years due to the lack of diversity within the group. While low numbers of underrepresented demographics is common in the entertainment industry, the HFPA took it a step further by having 0 Black members in the group to date. The last Black member of the HFPA was back in 2002 when the HFPA president was Meher Tatna. Thus, two decades have passed without the HFPA bringing in more Black members into the association. While they have acknowledged the complete lack of voting representation, the association has done nothing to change their standards. This has caused a scandal throughout Hollywood, with major TV networks boycotting the 2022 Golden Globes from airing on their channels from the likes of NBC to HBO. The superficial promises that the HFPA has made regarding advancing diversity in their governing body has been on paper, at best, with little action taking place in order to expand their inclusion of other members.
Which Gender is Nominated More?
Ironically, the Globes flout the fact that they have majority female members in the HFPA as a symbol of their “diverse” voters. Sadly, this is overshadowed by the underwhelming amount of women who actually win in the four major categories of the show. With the director role being one of the most executive positions in the film industry, the number of women as directors is incredibly low and the amount of nominations handed out are even lower. This chart showcases the Best Director nominees from 1980 to 2016 and a total of 6 nominations were awarded to women in the span of 40 years.
Why Did Golden Globes Viewership Drop in 2021?
This data is not being overlooked anymore. The recent viewership data for the Golden Globes is a direct reflection of the industry noticing the subliminal racism and sexism that drives this award show. Viewership for the Golden Globes dropped by 64% in 2021 with a meager 6.9 million viewers in comparison to the 18.4 million viewers in 2020. While the effects of the pandemic can also attribute to the lower ratings, much of the news surrounding the Globes in the past months has been negative press about the HFPA and the nominations.
What Needs to Change?
If award shows want to remain relevant, they have to catch up with the idea that one demographic cannot dominate all the categories. Those who watch the Golden Globes come from all different backgrounds and it is a shame that they are not able to see a multitude of diverse nominees or winners that represent them. No one wants to see the same nominations every year. A white man won best director, actor, and best picture? Shocking. Either the Globes adapts with the changing times or they will become like the diversity they claim to have aka non-existent.
