Golden Globes 2023 Ceremony Hit Record Low Ratings Following Years Of Diversity Controversy

Golden Globes 2023 Ceremony Hit Record Low Ratings Following Years Of Diversity Controversy

The Golden Globes is seemingly still reeling from its diversity issue.

Airing its first ceremony in two years, the awards show reportedly hit a viewing low with its 2023 premiere. Last year the show – which awards actors for performances in film and television – took a hiatus after being called out for having zero Black members in its organization that selects nominees and winners.

In recent years, the Golden Globes has been constantly scrutinized due to projects directed by and starring minorities often being snubbed. Back in 2019, “Queen & Slim” director Melina Matsoukas slammed the organization for allegedly refusing to watch the drama film starring Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith. The following year, the ceremony’s 80-year-old parent company, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, became the center of a diversity investigation. Big named networks such as Netflix and NBC, which normally broadcasts the show, pulled their support. This was following the discovery that HFPA had no Black journalists as members.

While new policies were reportedly implemented and the organization is now more diverse, it seems internal restructuring did not do much for ratings. According to a report, Nielsen charts showed the 2023 ceremony had a record-low audience viewing. Reportedly, only 6.3 million tuned in to watch. In contrast, the show had 6.9 million viewers in 2021 and 18.3 million in 2020.

The awards show even tapped comedian Jerrod Carmichael to host this year’s ceremony, seemignly hoping to make their diversity efforts clear. Though the “Rothaniel” star did receive an overwhelming amount of support for his blunt honesty, many were off put by a considerably distasteful joke about the late singer Whitney Houston.

Speaking about the hotel where the ceremony was held this year, Carmichael stated:

“So, we are here live from the hotel that killed Whitney Houston, the Beverly Hilton…That’s very exciting.”

https://twitter.com/amojmcd/status/1613017420607770625

Some deemed the joke insensitive, while others were impartial, mostly due to the comedian’s brutal realness about other important topics, such as being hired as the token Black and questioning Scientology’s missing First Lady Shelly Miscavige. 

Thank you Jerrod Carmichael!

Where is Shelly??#GoldenGlobes2023 #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/Ns81BG7iq0

— Leah Remini (@LeahRemini) January 11, 2023

Still, neither Carmichael nor new diversity policies were enough to boost numbers. Reportedly, the show was almost at an all-time low for the Golden Globes. Back in 2008 the writers’ strike reportedly saw only 6 million tuning in. Additionally, the report notes the annual ceremony typically airs on a Sunday, which could have played a role in viewership as well.

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Did you watch this year’s Golden Globes? Tell us why or why not in the comments.