The hunt for a suitable host continues. Chris RockMultiple outlets report that they declined an offer to host 2023 Golden Globe Awards on January NBC.
According to The Puck, the comedian, 57, was offered a “s—t load” of money to host the award ceremony’s return to live television, but Rock decided against it. NBC Universal’s producers are now looking for a new name to emcee the 80th Golden Globes ahead of its Tuesday, January 10, airing on NBC and Peacock. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s 2023 ceremony will be a return to form after it refused to air the 2022 awards shows due to allegations of discrimination.
In February 2021, Los Angeles Times published an exposé detailing alleged misconduct and diversity issues in the HFPA. Following the bombshell report, many celebrities and industry professionals slammed the organization, particularly after it was revealed that the group didn’t have a single Black member amongst its ranks.
“Because we understand the urgency and issue of transparency, we will be continuously updating the members and the public as we move forward in making our organization more inclusive and diverse,” the HFPA said in a statement in May 2021, before NBC announced that they would not broadcast the 2022 ceremony. “We understand that the hard work starts now and we remain dedicated to becoming a better organization and an example of diversity, transparency, and accountability in the industry.”
The association listed their plans, including a promise to increase the HFPA’s membership by 50 percent over the next 18 months, “with a specific focus on recruiting Black members.” The organization also announced plans to hire a diversity, equality, and inclusion strategist and establish a committee of “racially and ethnically diverse members who will advise the Board and oversee critical organizational reform.”
Although nominations for the 2022 Golden Globes had been announced in December 2021. However, the ceremony was held the next month without any celebrity or guest.
The 2023 Golden Globes aren’t the only awards show that Rock has reportedly declined to host. The Arizona comedian hosted an August stand-up event in Phoenix. Everybody Hates ChrisAfter being punched in the face, creator made fun of declining an offer to lead the 2023 Academy Awards. Will Smithat the 2022 ceremony. Rock claimed that he turned down an offer to appear on a Super Bowl commercial that was based on the altercation.
The Bel-Air’s Fresh PrinceRock, 53, was slapped in the face by the alum shortly after he won the Oscar for Best Actor In a Leading Role. This was in response to a joke at Jada pinkett Smith‘s expense. He publicly apologized for his actions and resigned from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences the following day. Later, he was banned from all Oscars events for the upcoming decade.
Smith made another public apology to Rock in July. He expressed regret for his actions in a long video. “I’ve spent the last three months replaying and understanding the nuances and the complexities of what happened in that moment,” the Philadelphia native said in a clip shared to Instagram at the time. “I’m not gonna try to unpack all of that right now. I can tell you all that there is no part in me that believes that this was the best way to behave at that moment. There’s no part of me that thinks that’s the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insults.”
He continued, “So I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.”
