On the eve of Sunday’s Golden Globes broadcast, the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. continues with a setback over its response to criticism that the electoral body does not have a single black member.
Following a Times investigation that raised new questions about the HFPA and the composition of its membership, several industry figures and organizations, including directors Ava DuVernay and JJ Abrams, actors Ellen Pompeo and Sterling K. Brown, comedian Amy Schumer and Time’s Up, appealed. the organization to cultivate inclusivity and address diversity in its ranks.
The organization’s official response to the calls for reform also took a shot at some of its own members.
In an email sent to the entire membership on Friday and addressed to HFPA COO and General Councilor Gregory Goeckner, Dierk Sindermann, one member, disputes the statements of former HFPA president Theo Kingma in an interview with The Times .
Kingma said he was working to address the absence of black members in the voting body. ‘This is something we need to take seriously; Times have changed, but unfortunately our statutes do not change so quickly, “he said on Thursday.
In his email, Sindermann, who represents Austria, Germany and Switzerland in the voting body, expressed surprise that Kingma had spoken out, saying: ‘Maybe I misunderstood you as the HFPA adviser, but in my memory your members urged not to comment publicly on internal matters. Does this rule no longer apply? “According to the e-mail that The Times reviewed.
In 2013, the HFPA rejected a black applicant, the British Samantha Ofole-Prince, according to the Wrap a decision that was under controversy in the group.
As for Ofole-Prince, Kingma told The Times: ‘Unfortunately she did not have the [bylaws] requirements. … Her publications paid her less than European publications, and she could not make a living here, which was more the reason to accept her. HFPA access would have really helped her. ”
But Sindermann contradicts Kingma and says she was rejected because she did not get ‘sufficient votes’.
“Many members are probably unaware that there was a controversy in 2013 about black applicant Samantha Ofole-Prince,” Sindermann wrote, calling Kingma’s comments about her “deaf and simple at best”.
Goeckner responded to Sindermann’s email, saying, “Let’s not discuss it by email.”
Ofole-Prince could not be reached for comment. Kingma and Sindermann declined to comment.
Members of the organization made confusing, if not conflicting, comments on the issue.
During a Zoom round table on Wednesday with Jane Fonda, this year’s Cecil B. DeMille recipient, the actress told HFPA members: ‘I have to say, get more women. I’m only the 17th time a woman has won [the career achievement award]. And also, we need to help you get more black members, ” according to a transcript of the exchange reviewed by The Times.
“They did not apply and no one wrote about it,” a member of the actress warned. “We’re open to everyone as long as you’re in Southern California and writing for an international magazine. The press never covered it. ”
Former HFPA president Meher Tatna said on Friday the association had not had a black member for at least twenty years and could not remember who that individual was, adding that ‘it was before my time, but I do not know which country he does not come from, ”according to an interview with Variety.
“We are committed to ensuring that our membership is a reflection of the communities around the world that love film, TV and artists who inspire and educate them,” a HFPA spokesman said in an earlier statement to The Times said. “We understand that we need to bring in black members as well as members from other under-represented backgrounds, and we will work immediately to implement an action plan to achieve these goals as soon as possible.”
The HFPA said they will address it in our show on Sunday, according to the Instagram organization.