In Golden Globes opening monologue, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler criticize lack of diversity
The duo co-hosted the award show's first-ever bicoastal telecast.
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler kicked off the 2021 Golden Globes on Sunday with a powerful opening monologue that called out the lack of diversity in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
"The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is made up of around 90 international, no Black journalists, who attend movie junkets each year in search of a better life," Fey began, hosting from the Rainbow Room in New York City.
"We say around 90, because a couple of them might be ghosts, and it's rumored that the German member is just a sausage that somebody drew a little face on," she continued.
"Everybody is understandably upset at the HFPA and their choices," said Poehler, who is hosting from the Beverly Hilton hotel, the traditional site of the Globes. "Look, a lot of flashy garbage got nominated, but that happens."
"OK, that's like their thing, but a number of Black actors and Black-led projects were overlooked," she continued.
Their comments come after a Los Angeles Times report released last Sunday revealed there are no Black members in the 87-person group of international journalists who make up the HFPA. The group decides the nominees and winners of the award show.
Following the release of the LA Times report, Time’s Up shared posts on Friday reading, “Hollywood Foreign Press Association: Not a single Black member out of 87,” adding the hashtag #TimesUpGlobes.
“A cosmetic fix isn’t enough. #TIMESUPGlobes #TIMESUP,” the organization captioned its posts.
Many notable names in Hollywood, including Shonda Rhimes, Mark Ruffalo, Ava DuVernay, Patton Oswalt, Jennifer Aniston, Kerry Washington, Judd Apatow and more, shared the message prior to the Golden Globes.
"Look, we all know that award shows are stupid," Fey said in the joint monologue. "They're all a scam, invented by Big Red Carpet to sell more carpet."
"Point is, even with stupid things, inclusivity is important, and there are no Black members of the Hollywood Foreign Press," she continued. "I realize HFPA, maybe you guys didn't get a memo because your workplace is in the back booth of a French McDonald's, but you've got to change that. So here's to change."
In response to the report and ensuing backlash, the HFPA on Friday reshared a statement they previously released to the LA Times, in which they vowed to institute change.
“We are fully committed to ensuring our membership is reflective of the communities around the world who love film, TV and the artists inspiring and educating them,” the statement read. “We understand that we need to bring in Black members, as well as members from other underrepresented backgrounds, and we will immediately work to implement an action plan to achieve these goals as soon as possible.”
Fey and Poehler also took time to honor front-line workers, who were seated in the audience at both locations.
"Normally this room is full of celebrities, but tonight our audience on both coasts is made up of smoking hot first responders and essential workers," Fey said. "We are so grateful for the work that you do and that you're here, so that the celebrities can safely stay at home."
This is Fey and Poehler's fourth time hosting the Globes together. They previously hosted in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Comedian Ricky Gervais hosted last year's show.
Prior to making her return as a host this year, Poehler joked about preparing for the award show with Fey.
"The prep is going so good -- we just have a few final questions, which is, 'When? How? Why? Where?' ... But we're going to figure it out," she joked during an appearance on "Late Night with Seth Meyers."
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