“As an actor promoting a film, one is expected to participate in awards season by attending press conferences as well as awards shows,” Johansson said in a statement. “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.” Already, Johansson’s comment was preceded by 2021 Golden Globe winner (and fellow Marvel Cinematic Universe star) Mark Ruffalo decrying the HFPA for resisting “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.”
Johansson continued, “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. 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.” Johansson has been nominated for five Golden Globes, most recently last year for her performance in “Marriage Story.” As IndieWire’s Anne Thompson wrote earlier on Saturday, “It’s hard to imagine that this gang of 87 is capable of reconstructing itself so radically. Old habits die hard.” Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
