The Hollywood Foreign Press Association Has Closed. What Does That Mean for the Golden Globes?

On June 12, 2023, after enduring years of controversy, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organization that founded the Golden Globes, announced that it would be closing. However, it seems this is not the end for the famously raucous ceremony, which has kicked off awards season for the past 80 years. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 Golden Globe Awards, and how we ended up here.

Will the 2024 Golden Globes still go ahead?

By all accounts, yes. Eldridge Industries, a holding company owned by the billionaire investor Todd Boehly, and Dick Clark Productions, which has produced the Golden Globes telecast for decades, have reportedly agreed to purchase the HFPA’s Golden Globes assets, rights, and properties for an undisclosed price. They’ll form a new non-profit, the Golden Globe Foundation, which will continue the philanthropic work of the HFPA. (The organization has given more than $50 million to entertainment-related charities over the last 30 years.) Meanwhile, a yet-to-be-named for-profit entity will also seek to expand the Golden Globes as a brand. Planning and producing the Golden Globes ceremony annually will remain a focus, too. Earlier this year, the HFPA disclosed that the voting body for the 2024 competition will be comprised of 310 journalists from outside the US, a group which will include the organization’s 95 current members.

In a statement, Dick Clark Productions’s CEO Jay Penske said: “As stewards of the Golden Globe Awards, our mission is to continue creating the most dynamic awards ceremony on live television viewed across the world. We have a great team in place to grow this iconic brand and captivate new and existing audiences to celebrate the very best in television and motion pictures.”

So, when will the 2024 Golden Globes take place?

The ceremony is currently scheduled for January 7, though there is not yet a broadcast partner for the awards show. It could feasibly end up on a major network or a streaming platform, as was the case for the SAG Awards, which aired live on Netflix’s  YouTube page earlier this year.

When did the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s problems begin?

On February 21, 2021, a Los Angeles Times investigation accused the HFPA of “self-dealing” and highlighted potential conflicts of interest. Among them was the fact that 30 HFPA members had been flown to France to visit the set of Emily in Paris in 2019. Two years later, the series was nominated for two Golden Globes, while more critically lauded shows like I May Destroy You were snubbed. It was also revealed that the organization had no Black members. Meher Tatna, its former president, later told Variety that there hadn’t been any Black members for at least two decades. The backlash was swift, with several former Golden Globe nominees including Ava DuVernay demanding change via social media.

Just days before the 2021 Golden Globes ceremony on February 28, the HFPA responded with a statement saying: “We are fully committed to ensuring our membership is reflective of the communities around the world who love film, TV and the artists inspiring and educating them. We understand that we need to bring in Black members, as well as members from other underrepresented backgrounds, and we will immediately work to implement an action plan to achieve these goals as soon as possible.”

What happened next?

Things quickly went from bad to worse. In March 2021, the HFPA hired a new strategic diversity advisor and vowed that at least 13% of its membership would be Black. However, in April, Deadline reported that HFPA member and former eight-term president Philip Berk had sent an email sharing an article that labelled Black Lives Matter a “racist hate movement.” Berk was expelled, but the incident set off a chain of events that led to the departure of the HFPA’s crisis communications firm and diversity consultant.