Golden Globe Awards: Inclusion and Diversity Take Center Stage

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The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) organizes the Golden Globe Awards, an annual ceremony that recognizes excellence in film and television.

The ceremony was held for the 80th time in its history, but this year’s edition was particularly noteworthy because of the racial exclusion scandals that have plagued the organization in recent times.

No one in the 87 members of the HFPA was Black, which led to widespread criticism and calls for reform in 2021, according to a Los Angeles Times report.

As a result of the scandal, several high-profile individuals and organizations, including actor Tom Cruise, returned the Golden Globe Awards, and NBC, the network that traditionally aired the ceremony, decided not to air the ceremony in 2021. 

Following the scandal, the HFPA has pledged to take steps to promote inclusion within the organization.

These included efforts to recruit a more diverse group of members and increase transparency regarding the organization’s finances and governance. The association also pledged to increase funding for scholarships and grants to minority groups.

Many in the industry have called for more to be done to address the underlying problems with race and representation in Hollywood while the HFPA’s reform efforts are still ongoing.

Some have called for a complete overhaul of the awards ceremony, arguing that the Golden Globes lack credibility due to the HFPA’s controversial history.

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Most Coveted Awards Show

Despite these challenges, the Golden Globe Awards remains one of the entertainment industry’s most prestigious and watched events, with many talented actors, directors and writers continuing to be recognized at the awards ceremony each year. 

However, it will be important to see if the association can get a hold of the situation and actively make changes so that the awards ceremony can be truly inclusive and honoring the talents of all people.

The night began with host Jerrod Carmichael taking the stage and explaining how he came to be the host, with a quip about being Black and a detailed account of his decision-making process. 

The trophy distribution then began, with several notable films and performances taking home awards.

The Banshees of Inisherin, a tragicomedy set on an Irish island, led all movies with eight nominations and ultimately took home the best comedy film trophy, while Colin Farrell won in the best actor in a comedy/musical category. 

Writer-director Martin McDonagh also took home the best screenplay award.

Another film, Everything Everywhere All at Once, also fared well, with Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan both winning in the best actress and best supporting actor in a series, limited series, or motion picture made for television categories respectively.

The Fablemans also came into frame, with the film winning best drama film and Steven Spielberg winning best director.

It was a night of diverse wins, showcasing the talent and different voices of various cultures in the film industry and it was not just limited to a few people. The night was a reminder that the industry needs to look beyond their usual suspects and recognize talents from all backgrounds.

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Golden Globe Artists and Shows 

Film

Best Motion Picture — Drama

The Fabelmans

Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy

The Banshees of Inisherin

Best Motion Picture — Non-English Language

Argentina, 1985

Best Motion Picture — Animated

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

Best Director — Motion Picture

Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans

Best Screenplay — Motion Picture

Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama

Austin Butler, Elvis

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama

Cate Blanchett, Tár

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy

Colin Farrell, The Banshees of Inisherin

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy

Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture

Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture

Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Best Original Score — Motion Picture

Justin Hurwitz, Babylon

Best Original Song — Motion Picture

“Naatu Naatu” by M.M. Keeravani, Kala Bhairava, Rahul Sipligunj from RRR

Television

Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy

Abbott Elementary

Best Television Series – Drama

House of the Dragon

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama

Kevin Costner, Yellowstone

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama

Zendaya, Euphoria

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy

Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy

Jeremy Allen White, The Bear

Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Television Series

Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary

Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Television Series

Julia Garner, Ozark

Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

The White Lotus

Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Evan Peters, Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story

Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Amanda Seyfried, The Dropout

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Paul Walter Hauser, Black Bird