The Golden Globe Awards have caught flak before but this time around they have outdone themselves. The awards committee unveiled its list of nominations, on Monday, and Ava Duvarney’s When They See Us was given the cold shoulder.
Do the Golden Globe Awards have a case to plead?
The 93-member Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) has been dishing out Golden Globe awards of excellence in film and television since 1944.
Something must have gone horribly wrong this time because the Golden Globe Awards have basically pissed off the entire feminist and pro-black community in the film industry.
On Monday, the HFPA published its list of nominees for 2020 and no female directors were featured, despite gains in the number of films and TV shows helmed by women.
As reported by Variety, HFPA president, Lorenzo Soria defended the state of the Golden Globe nominees, saying that achievements outweighed politics in their selection process.
“What happened is that we don’t vote by gender. We vote by film and accomplishment.”
Lorenzo Soria, President of HFPA
When They See Us rallies support on social media
Honey Boy director, Alma Har’el, disagreed with Soria. In a tweet, she claimed that “these are not our people and they do not represent us.”
Good morning to everyone that’s writing me about the #goldenglobes
— Alma Har'el (@Almaharel) December 9, 2019
I feel you but know this.
I was on the inside for the first time this year. These are not our people and they do not represent us.
Do not look for justice in the awards system.
We are building a new world. https://t.co/IK7YNy5J5S
DuVarney, who got reeled into the discussion, did not care much about addressing the apparent injustices of the HFPA. Instead, she used the opportunity to call on more people to watch the show on Netflix.
WHEN THEY SEE US is trending nationally. A good thing. More light on the Exonerated 5 and the system of mass criminalization this nation has constructed. For more, watch the project on @Netflix. For even more, go to @ColorofChange or @Innocence. xo pic.twitter.com/woPpSOY3eZ
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) December 9, 2019
These are the other acts that were snubbed
Barry Adelman, an executive producer of the Golden Globe Awards, chalked this up to the level of demand the awards ceremony has attracted over the years.
“There’s so much talent going on, maybe we need to expand the categories so more people can be part of it. I also think that if you look at some of the other things…a lot of the big television shows are created by women, so I think across the board there is a good representation. Maybe in a couple of those categories, we wish it could be a little different. Who knows what will happen next year.” Adelman said.
Some of the other female actresses ad directors who were snubbed include:
- Lupita Nyong’o (Us)
- Zendaya (Euphoria)
- Regina King (Watchmen)
- Jharrel Jerome (who picked up an Emmy for his role in When They See Us)
- Lulu Wang (The Farewell)
- Greta Gerwig (Little Women)
- Lorene Scafaria (Hustlers)
- Olivia Wilde (Booksmart)
- Marielle Heller (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood).
