UPDATE 18:54: Literally, minutes after HFPA announced more details of its plans to be a more diverse and inclusive organization, Time’s Up responded with “the right words are not enough. Clock is ticking.”
In a statement released on Saturday night, Time’s Up’s President and CEO, Tina Tchen, criticized HFPA in a case of too little late:
“So NBCUniversal, Dick Clark Productions and HFPA have declared that they have a plan to fix problems that they have ignored for decades. We are not so sure. On behalf of the many artists who expect us to keep HFPA’s feet on fire against racism, disrespect, misogyny and alleged corrupt Golden Globes financial negotiations, we need to see specific details, timelines for change and firm commitments. The right words are not enough. Clock is ticking.”
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According to sources, Time’s Up had a meeting with executives from Golden Globe broadcaster NBC earlier this week about the controversy over the lack of black HFPA members in his body.
The activist organization has strongly suggested to the Comcast-owned network that it use its influence over HFPA in an attempt to open the organization up to more diverse membership, Deadline concluded.
#TIMESUPGLOBES pic.twitter.com/ELfDFwMUVQ
– TIME’S UP (@TIMESUPNOW) March 7, 2021
PREVIOUSLY 18:49: Almost a week after the controversial 78th annual Golden Globe Awards, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association tonight offered more details on its plans to be more inclusive and, finally, to include black members in its ranks.
“Hire an independent specialist in organizational diversity, equity and inclusion to advise and guide us. Among other important tasks, this expert will audit our statutes and membership requirements to help us protect against any exclusionary practices and achieve more diverse membership, ”wrote HFPA in a statement published on all of its media platforms. Social.
In addition to hiring an “independent expert” and devising disclosure plans, HFPA added that, in typical Hollywood corporate style, it will also hire a third party law firm to “review HFPA policies to ensure that we are aligned and exceeding the industry better. practices in critical areas. ”In working with the law firm, HFPA seeks to implement” a robust process “where any member can report violations of ethical standards or code of conduct with” confidence that it will be fully and fairly investigated ” .
HFPA’s most recent announcement comes almost a week after its 78th annual Golden Globe, where the organization’s controversy and lack of diversity took center stage. A few days before the annual Time’s Up awards ceremony and several Hollywood figures, from Ellen Pompeo to Ava DuVernay, criticized HFPA after a complaint from the Los Angeles Times revealed that the industry body had no black journalists among its 87 current members.
During last week’s ceremony, HFPA members took the stage to briefly address the controversy, just noting that “black representation is vital” and that they are working to make diverse members “the norm”. After the show, Time’s Up doubled its criticism of HFPA in an open letter calling the body’s proposed diversification goals “cosmetic”.
“We at Time’s Up are ready to work for real changes. The globes are no longer golden. It is time to act ”, said the letter.
The Critics Choice Association and Television Academy have since praised their diverse members and nominees, and in-depth D&I efforts, respectively.
“These are the initial steps that we will take in the next 60 days and we will take further action based on the recommendations that come from these initial analyzes and assessments,” continues the statement. “We are committed to achieving these goals to increase transparency in our organization and to build a more inclusive community.