The former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has sent an email saying that Black Lives Matter is a racist movement, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times Tuesday.
The former president of the association that presents the Golden Globes awards, Phil Berk, also described Patrice Cullors, a co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, as a ‘self-proclaimed’ trained Marxist ‘in the email, which according to the Times to the press association’s members, staff and its general council was sent. and chief operating officer, Gregory Goeckner.
Berk, who served eight terms as president of the organization, also shared a article titled “BLM Goes Hollywood” in the email. Berk did not name the source for the story, but it comes from cnon-conservative commentator David Horowitz’s website Freedom Center, FrontPage Mag, according to the Times.
The article Berk shared was a case of Cullors who bought a $ 1.4 million home in California after the national outrage and protests over racial injustice happened last summer.
The Golden Globes came under criticism this spring for its awards event due to a lack of nominations, as well as historically for black artists. This is part of a critique that has also been leveled at other awards events.
This year’s Golden Globes winners did include several black artists, such as Daniel Kaluuya for supporting actor for his performance in Judas and the Black Messiah, and Andra Day for Best Actress in the United States against Billie Holliday. The late Chadwick Boseman also won Best Actor for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Members of HFPA’s Board responded openly to the email through Berk.
The HFPA said in a statement to the LA Times: ‘Since its inception, the HFPA has dedicated itself to bridging cultural ties and to creating a further understanding of different backgrounds through film and television. The opinions expressed in the article by mr. Birch Distributed is that of the author of the article and does not reflect the views and values of the HFPA in any way. The HFPA condemns all forms of racism, discrimination and hate speech and finds such language and content unacceptable. ”
The Hill released Black Lives Matter to comment on Berk’s comments.