Scarlett Johansson Joins Growing Chorus of Criticism Against the Golden Globes


Scarlett Johansson denounced the Hollywood Foreign Press ᴀssociation in a statement on Saturday, and urged her colleagues to join her in stepping back from engaging with the group and the Golden Globes, its annual awards show. She referenced previous encounters with the organization “that bordered on Sєxual harᴀssment” and said the HFPA “was legitimized by the likes of Harvey Weinstein.”

The HFPA has been under considerable scrutiny this year, as increasing numbers have discovered its startling lack of diversity and have learned about accusations of ethics violations against the famously secretive group.

Johansson, a five-time Golden Globe nominee, joins fellow A-lister and Marvel co-star Mark Ruffalo, who issued a statement on Friday that he “cannot feel proud or happy about being a recipient of [a Golden Globe].” He added that “now is the time to step up and right the wrongs of the past.”


Additionally, Netflix’s chief content officer Ted Sarandos said he we would cease all activities with the HFPA until more substantial changes were made. Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke quickly followed suit, saying that her company was also waiting to see the awards group enact reform.



These declarations from Hollywood heavy hitters are, no doubt, meant to add pressure to a forthcoming vote to change its bylaws. The decision to have the upcoming vote was agreed upon by a wide margin on Thursday, as was initiating the group’s promised first steps toward addressing its lack of diversity. After 75 of 86 members voted yes, the organization will now hire a search firm to bring in a new CEO and a Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, and create a H๏τline to report conduct violations. It will also begin immediate outreach for new members, with an aim of adding 20 members over the next year and increasing the total amount by 50 percent in the next two years. The HFPA currently has zero Black members.

Johansson’s Saturday statement got into the nitty gritty, saying that “as an actor promoting a film, one is expected to participate in awards season by attending press conferences as well as awards shows.” It continued, “in the past, this has often meant facing Sєxist questions and remarks by certain HFPA members that bordered on Sєxual harᴀssment. It is the exact reason why I, for many years, refused to participate in their conferences. The HFPA is an organization that was legitimized by the likes of Harvey Weinstein to amᴀss momentum for Academy recognition and the industry followed suit. Unless there is necessary fundamental reform within the organization, I believe it is time that we take a step back from the HFPA and focus on the importance and strength of unity within our unions and the industry as a whole.”

In early March, a tidal wave initiated by Ava DuVernay, J.J. Abrams, Sterling K. Brown, and others led to dozens of Hollywood notables voicing their displeasure with the HFPA on social media.

More Great Stories From Vanity Fair
— After Jen Shah’s Arrest, How Can We Keep Enjoying Real Housewives?
— Barry Jenkins on Bringing The Underground Railroad to TV
— How Swimming With Sharks Tried to Warn Us About Scott Rudin
— Quil Lemons’s 2021 Vanity Fair Oscar Portraits
— Andrew McCarthy on Pretty in Pink and the Brat Pack
— The 2021 Oscar Ceremony Was a Noble, Doomed Experiment
— Elliot Page Finally Feels “Able to Just Exist”
— From the Archive: The Unsinkable Jennifer Aniston

— Not a subscriber? Join Vanity Fair to receive full access to VF.com and the complete online archive now.


Related Posts

Check out a cool new set of dope Lil Wayne pics, he’s set a new goal of 12 albums this year

Check out a cool new set of dope Lil Wayne pics, he’s set a new goal of 12 albums this year A fresh photo shoot featuring Lil Wayne has recently surfaced online,…

Read more

Christina Milian, 33, confirms she’s happy with Lil Wayne: ‘He’s very special to me, yeah’

Christina Milian, 33, confirms she’s happy with Lil Wayne: ‘He’s very special to me, yeah’ Christina Milian, 33, confirms she’s happy with Lil Wayne: ‘He’s very special to me, yeah’…

Read more

5x GRAMMY Award-winning music icon Lil Wayne has been inducted into the Billboard Hip-Hop Hall of Fame

The ceremony follows Wayne’s fourth cover appearance on Billboard magazine. . . . . . .

Read more

BACK TO THE YOUNG: Jay Z and Beyonce play on the swing like they didn’t have kids

Jay-Z and Beyoncé: Remembering their romantic days Via virtual entertainment stages, nostalgic, starkly contrasting images show two well-known music moguls, Jay-Z and Beyoncé, enjoying themselves on a swing in a…

Read more

Beyonce wears ripped skinny jeans as she steps out with Jay Z in NYC

She is regularly featured for making daring fashion statements and flaunting her toned body. And as she and her husband Jay Z, 45, exited their New York City office on…

Read more

Tom Brady and Jay-Z meet with NFL rookies including Caleb Williams to offer ‘priceless advice and knowledge’ at lavish Los Angeles Fanatics event

Maye, sat down for breakfast with Tom Brady and Jay-Z. The event was hosted in Los Angeles on Sunday morning by the seven-time Super Bowl champion and Empire State of…

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *