The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) promised to make significant changes to its membership following a report that the organization had no black members.
The organization behind the Golden Globes issued a statement earlier in the week that they voted unanimously to increase their membership to 100 people and 13 percent would be black people. Currently, the voting membership is made up of 87 L.A. based foreign journalists.
The announcement came shortly after more than 100 Hollywood public relations offices signed a letter saying they would be instructing their clients not to work with the HFPA until changes were made regarding “discriminatory behavior, unprofessionalism, ethical impropriety, and alleged financial corruption endemic to the HFPA.”
“While we stand ready to support your good faith efforts, please know that anything less than transparent meaningful change that respects and honors the diversity and dignity of our clients, their colleagues, and our global audience will result in immediate and irreparable damage to the relationship between our agencies, our clients, and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and those who sanction the institutional inequity and insular culture that currently define it,” read the statement.
The HFPA’s statement acknowledged that they should have done more, sooner. They announced that their legal counsel is doing a comprehensive review of the organization’s governance and code of conduct. They also announced that Dr. Shaun Harper would be their new diversity advisor.
“We have also started meeting with various advocacy groups and racially diverse partners to gather their input and hear their opinions on the additional reforms that need to take place,” read the statement. “While we recognize this is a long-term process, we will continue to be transparent, provide updates, and have confidence in our ability to change and restore trust in our organization and the Golden Globes. As we do so, we invite others in the Hollywood community to join us in advancing racial equity in our industry.”
The HFPA has been facing backlash since The Los Angeles Times released an article exposing the lack of diversity within the organization.
