Golden Globes host Jerrod Carmichael truly called out the Hollywood Foreign Press Association with his opening speech at the award ceremony on Wednesday.
“I’ll tell you why I’m here. I’m here because I’m Black,” the comedian began.
In his monologue, Carmichael addressed some hard truths about the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which runs the Globes and which faced scrutiny last February when the Los Angeles Times revealed that it is 87 members included no Black people. The HFPA subsequently refused to air the 2022 Globes ceremony.
“I’ll catch everyone in the room up,” Carmichael said in his speech. “This show, the Golden Globe Awards, did not air last year because the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which — I won’t say they were a racist organization, but they didn’t have a single Black member until George Floyd died. So do with that information what you will.”
In October, the organisation the HFPA included six Black members in its new additions.
Carmichael spoke about being asked to host the show by producer Stephen Hill, and being “unfireable” as the first Black person to host the Golden Globes. “One minute you’re making mint tea at home, the next minute you’re invited to be the Black face of an embattled organization. Life comes at you pretty fast, you know?”
Carmichael wrapped up by joking about taking the gig despite thinking nothing had changed at the HFPA, and giving a genuine moment of respectful admiration for the nominees: “This industry deserves nights like these.”
Want to see who won the gold? Here’s the list of Golden Globes nominees and winners.
