NBC cancels Golden Globes 2022 broadcast

NBC will not air the Golden Globes in 2022 following ongoing criticism about no black journalists amongst the Hollywood Foreign Press Assoc. 87 members.

“We continue to believe that the HFPA is committed to meaningful reform,” NBC said in a statement. “However, change of this magnitude takes time and work, and we feel strongly that the HFPA needs time to do it right. As such, NBC will not air the 2022 Golden Globes. Assuming the organization executes on its plan, we are hopeful we will be in a position to air the show in January 2023.”

Last week, the HFPA released a framework for reform that includes measures to increase the number of people of colour in its ranks. The plan, which was approved on Thursday, also includes new restrictions on gifts that the members could receive and payments for work on their committees.

Several major players had earlier revealed that they were boycotting the Globes and the HFPA until they could be assured that real change is coming.

Netflix announced it was “stopping any activities with [the HFPA] until more meaningful changes are made” and noted “Netflix and many of the talent and creators we work with cannot ignore the HFPA’s collective failure to address these crucial issues with urgency and rigor.”

Amazon announced it was cutting off the HFPA until changes were made. “We have not been working with the HFPA since these issues were first raised, and like the rest of the industry, we are awaiting a sincere and significant resolution before moving forward,” Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke said in a statement. Then WarnerMedia joined the boycott. A group of 100 publicity firms also said they would “continue to refrain from any HFPA sanctioned events” until more meaningful reform was made.

This means the Hollywood Foreign Press Association will now have to decide how or if it will move forward next year without its broadcast partner, or more swiftly enact changes demanded by industry leaders regarding membership and processes.

Variety reports it will now be up to lawyers to determine the status of the relationship between NBC, Dick Clark Prods. and the HFPA going forward. In 2018, NBC signed a new broadcast license deal with the HFPA to air the Globes at $60 million, believed to be triple the previous licensing fee.

In a statement the HFPA said, “Regardless of the next air date of the Golden Globes, implementing transformational changes as quickly – and as thoughtfully – as possible remains the top priority for our organization. We invite our partners in the industry to the table to work with us on the systemic reform that is long overdue, both in our organization as well as within the industry at large.” It gave a timeline to indicate how it would achieve its goals.