Tom Cruise returns Golden Globe trophies

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The 58-year-old actor put his three Golden Globe trophies in a box and shipped them back to the HFPA in protest of the group’s alleged lack of diversity, sources shared with deadline magazine in a piece published Monday. Writes Katie Jerkovich

Tom Cruise reportedly gave back three of his Golden Globe awards as NBC announced it won’t air the awards show in 2022 amid backlash against the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA)’s alleged lack of diversity.

The 58-year-old actor put his three Golden Globe trophies in a box and shipped them back to the HFPA in protest of the group’s alleged lack of diversity, sources shared with deadline magazine in a piece published Monday.

The awards the “Top Gun” star returned were reportedly ones he got for the Best Actor for his roles in “Jerry Maguire” and “Born on the Fourth of July” and for Best Supporting Actor in “Magnolia.”

NBC announced a short time later it wouldn’t host the annual awards show, citing HFPA’s “lack of diversity” — and not its lowest ratings ever — as the reason.

“We continue to believe that the HFPA is committed to meaningful reform,” a statement from NBC to CNN read. “However, change of this magnitude takes time and work, and we feel strongly that the HFPA needs time to do it right. As such, NBC will not air the 2022 Golden Globes.”

HBO and Warner Media have cut ties with the organization until sweeping reforms are enacted, LA Times reported. Netflix and Amazon have taken similar action, according to Fox News.

“While we commend the HFPA membership’s approval of the plan to move towards radical reform, we don’t believe the plan goes far enough in addressing the [breadth] of our concerns, nor does your timeline capture the immediate need by which these issues should be addressed,” WarnerMedia shared in its letter.

“WarnerMedia Studios and Networks will continue to refrain from direct engagement with the HFPA, including sanctioned press conferences and invitations to cover other industry events with talent, until these changes are implemented,” the letter added. “This includes work with HBO, HBO Max, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, Warner Bros. Television, TNT and TBS.”

The Los Angeles Times conducted a February investigation that found that while “the HFPA’s ranks include a number of people of color, there are no Black members.” In response, the organization promised to increase its group to 100 and of that include 13% black membership.

Several stars have also spoken out against the HFPA, including Scarlett Johansson who called for the industry to “step back” from the Globes until more reforms are enacted, Variety reported.

“As an actor promoting a film, one is expected to participate in awards season by attending press conferences as well as awards shows,” Johansson shared in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “In the past, this has often meant facing sexist questions and remarks by certain HFPA members that bordered on sexual harassment. 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 amass momentum for Academy recognition and the industry followed suit,” her statement added. “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.”

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