HFPA Promises to Diversify in Wake of Controversy, But Time’s Up Demands More Specifics

Time’s Up responded to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s statement on Saturday outlining initial steps it will take to be more inclusive and increase transparency within its organization.

CEO Tina Tchen wrote, “So NBCUniversal, Dick Clark Productions, and the HFPA just declared that they have a plan to fix problems they’ve ignored for decades. We’re not so sure. On behalf of the many artists who look to us to hold the HFPA’s feet to the fire on the racism, disrespect, misogyny, and alleged corrupt financial dealings of the Golden Globes, we need to see specific details, timetables for change, and firm commitments. The right words are not enough. The clock is ticking.”

The HFPA, which is the body that organizes the Golden Globe Awards, came under fire last week after The Los Angeles Times reported that there were no Black members among the organization’s 87 members. It also emerged that there had been no Black members since 2002.

This controversy was acknowledged last Sunday at the Golden Globe Awards by hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, who declared on stage, “The HFPA is made up of around 90 international—no Black—journalists who attend movie junkets each year in search of a better life.”

Among the HFPA’s steps that it will be committing to, the organization noted that is “improving our efforts to create transparency into our operations, voting, processes, eligibility, and membership.” The organization further outlined that is committed to increasing its support of “internship, mentorship and scholarship programs for Black and other underrepresented students interested in international journalism.”

Outreach efforts will be made with a specific focus in adding Black and underrepresented professionals to the organization, while a third-party, independent law firm will be hired to review all policies. Every member of the HFPA will be required to participate in annual anti-racism and unconscious bias education and sexual harassment training.

The HFPA’s steps will be carried out over the next 60 days, after which further action will come from initial reviews and assessments. “We are committed to achieving these objectives in order to increase transparency in our organization and build a more inclusive community,” wrote the HFPA.

After the statement surfaced on Saturday, filmmaker Ava DuVernay responded on Twitter. “So, the board is gonna oversee its own reform? Same board that oversees and benefits from the current practices and has knowingly perpetuated the HFPA’s corrupt dealings and racial inequity for decades? Got it.”

View the HFPA’s full statement below.