Arguably one of the world’s most well-known red-carpet events, since 1944, The Golden Globes usually has a star-studded guest list that rivals The Met Gala. However, this year, the 79th Golden Globes, the event took place in private, with no host, celebrities, and without the usual television audience of tens of millions. Why go ahead at all?
The Golden Globes’ parent organisation the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), has been embroiled in controversy since February last year, when a Los Angeles Times exposé accused it of a lack of diversity in its voting membership – at the time, the panel of 100 did not have a single Black member – as well as “ethical lapses” in its business conduct.
The diversity and ethics scandal were perpetuated by a “culture of corruption”, where companies were allegedly able to buy nominations or wins. In the wake of the exposé, hundreds of public relations firms announced they would no longer work with the Globes, and stars such as Tom Cruise and Scarlett Johannsson condemned the HPFA. Cruise handed back his three trophies and Johannsson urged a boycott and recalled facing “sexist questions and remarks by certain HFPA members that bordered on sexual harassment.”

Television network NBC cancelled its broadcast of the 2022 event, after airing it every year since 1996, in a move Time’s Up, a leading advocate for industry reform, described as “a defining moment for Hollywood.”
Last year, Scarlett Johannsson released a statement, citing: “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.” Her Avengers co-star Mark Ruffalo joined her, taking to Twitter to release his own statement, entitled “change is golden”.
“It’s discouraging to see the HFPA, which has gained prominence and profited handsomely from their involvement with filmmakers and actors, resist the change that is being asked of them from many of the groups that have been most disenfranchised by their culture of secrecy and exclusion. Now is the time to step up and right the wrongs of the past. Honestly, as a recent winner of a Golden Globe, I cannot feel proud or happy about being a recipient of this award.
Our industry is embracing the opportunity for greater equality in this beautiful moment. It Is not perfect and long overdue, but it is clear what must happen and how. The Justice Movement is offering all of us, the HFPA, and every other entertainment entity, a good way forward. We should all follow suit. It is our audiences and our highest sense of decency that we are ultimately serving these changes. They are both deserving.”
During the Golden Globes nominations ceremony in September, HFPA President Helen Hoehne, said it had been a time of change and reflection for the association. “For eight months we’ve worked tirelessly as an organisation to be better,” Ms Hoehne said.
“We’ve changed our rules, bylaws, added a new code of conduct and restructured our governance. We also have 21 new members, the largest and most diverse in our 79-year-old history. Not only have they brought in a fresh perspective, but ideas that will continue to help us evolve.”
Snoop Dogg was the surprise presence at the HFPA’s Golden Globes announcement in December.
“It’s an unusual year,” Hoehne said afterward. “So, we thought we’d try something different. And we’re just so grateful that he [Snoop Dogg] did. He’s a great artist. And you know, we always support artists. So, we love to have him. And it was great that he said yes.”

Though the ceremony this week at the Beverly Hilton was not televised nor live streamed, with no audience members, celebrity presenters or press members in attendance, the winners were announced via Twitter.
The Winners
Will Smith won his first Golden Globe for his critically acclaimed performance in King Richard, as tennis legend sisters’ Venus and Serena Williams’ father, Richard.

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez made Golden Globes history as the first ever trans woman to win a Globe, winning for Best Actress in a TV Series – Drama for FX’s Pose. Rodriguez was one of only a handful of winners to acknowledge their win on social media, with major winners including Kate Winslet, Michael Keaton, Jason Sudeikis, Will Smith and Nicole Kidman failing to post.
South Korean actor O Yeong-su also made history, claiming the country’s first ever Golden Globe Award for his role in the hit Netflix drama Squid Game, drawing cheers at home and abroad. “Squid Game,” a surprise hit for Netflix after it was released in last September, was the streaming service’s biggest non-English-language show ever.
See the full list of this year’s Golden Globes winners below
Best motion picture, drama
- Belfast
- Coda
- Dune
- King Richard
- The Power of the Dog — winner
Best TV series, drama
- Lupin
- The Morning Show
- Pose
- Squid Game
- Succession — winner
Best director, motion picture
- Kenneth Branagh, Belfast
- Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog — winner
- Maggie Gyllenhall, The Lost Daughter
- Steven Spielberg, West Side Story
- Denis Villeneuve, Dune
Best actress in a motion picture, drama
- Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
- Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter
- Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos — winner
- Lady Gaga, House of Gucci
- Kristen Stewart, Spencer
Best motion picture, musical or comedy
- Cyrano
- Don’t Look Up
- Licorice Pizza
- Tick, Tick…Boom
- West Side Story — winner
Best actress in a motion picture, musical or comedy
- Marion Cotillard, Annette
- Alana Haim, Licorice Pizza
- Jennifer Lawrence, Don’t Look Up
- Emma Stone, Cruella
- Rachel Zegler, West Side Story — winner
Best actress in a TV series, drama
- Uzo Aduba, In Treatment
- Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
- Christine Baranski, The Good Fight
- Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale
- Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Pose — winner
Best actor in a supporting role in any motion picture
- Ben Affleck, The Tender Bar
- Jamie Dornan, Belfast
- Ciarán Hinds, Belfast
- Troy Kotsur, Coda
- Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog — winner
Best actor in a motion picture, drama
- Mahershala Ali, Swan Song
- Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos
- Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog
- Will Smith, King Richard — winner
- Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth
Best original score, motion picture
- Alexandre Desplat, The French Dispatch
- Germaine Franco, Encanto
- Jonny Greenwood, The Power of the Dog
- Alberto Iglesias, Parallel Mothers
- Hans Zimmer, Dune — winner
Best original song, motion picture
- Be Alive, King Richard
- Dos Oruguitas, Encanto
- Down to Joy, Belfast
- Here I Am (Singing My Way Home), Respect
- No Time to Die, No Time to Die — winner
Best actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy
- Leonardo DiCaprio, Don’t Look Up
- Peter Dinklage, Cyrano
- Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick…Boom! — winner
- Cooper Hoffman, Licorice Pizza
- Anthony Ramos, In the Heights
Best limited series or TV movie
- Dopesick
- Impeachment: American Crime Story
- Maid
- Mare of Easttown
- The Underground Railroad — winner
Best TV series, musical or comedy
- The Great
- Hacks — winner
- Only Murders in the Building
- Reservation Dogs
- Ted Lasso
Best actress in a TV series, musical or comedy
- Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
- Elle Fanning, The Great
- Issa Rae, Insecure
- Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish
- Jean Smart, Hacks — winner
Best actress in a limited series or TV movie
- Jessica Chastain, Scenes from a Marriage
- Cynthia Erivo, Genius: Aretha
- Elizabeth Olsen, WandaVision
- Margaret Qualley, Maid
- Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown — winner
Best actor in a limited series or TV movie
- Paul Bettany, WandaVision
- Oscar Isaac, Scenes from a Marriage
- Michael Keaton, Dopesick — winner
- Ewan McGregor, Halston
- Tahar Rahim, The Serpent
Best supporting actress in a TV role
- Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus
- Kaitlyn Dever, Dopesick
- Andie Macdowell, Maid
- Sarah Snook, Succession — winner
- Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso
Best screenplay, motion picture
- Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza
- Kenneth Branagh, Belfast — winner
- Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog
- Adam McKay, Don’t Look Up
- Aaron Sorkin, Being the Ricardos
Best actor in a TV series, musical or comedy
- Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
- Nicholas Hoult, The Great
- Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
- Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
- Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso — winner
Best motion picture, non-English language
- Compartment No. 6 (Finland/Russia/Germany)
- Drive My Car (Japan) — winner
- The Hand of God (Italy)
- A Hero (France/Iran)
- Parallel Mothers (Spain)
Best actor in a TV series, drama
- Brian Cox, Succession
- Lee Jung-Jae, Squid Game
- Billy Porter, Pose
- Jeremy Strong, Succession — winner
- Omar Sy, Lupin
Best motion picture, animated
- Encanto — winner
- Flee
- Luca
- My Sunny Maad
- Raya and the Last Dragon
Best supporting actor in a TV role
- Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
- Kieran Culkin, Succession
- Mark Duplass, The Morning Show
- Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso
- O Yeong-Su, Squid Game — winner
Best actress in a supporting role in any motion picture
- Caitriona Balfe, Belfast
- Ariana Debose, West Side Story — winner
- Kristen Dunst, The Power of the Dog
- Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard
- Ruth Negga, Passin
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