Jerrod Carmichael Confronts Golden Globes Racism Scandal in Monologue

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Jerrod Carmichael did not hesitate to cause a scandal when he hosted the 2023 Golden Globes on Sunday evening.

The famed comedian, 35, opened the awards show by confronting why he was missing the airways last year, amid complaints about the lack of diversity and inclusivity within Hollywood. Foreign Press, its governing body.

“I’ll tell you why I’m here. I’m here because I’m black,” Carmichael said, tackling the elephant in the room while taking a seat on the stairs of the Beverly Hilton stage.

“That show, the Golden Globe Awards, didn’t air last year because the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which I won’t say, was a racist organization, but it didn’t have a single black member until on the death of George Floyd. [in 2020]. So do with this information what you want.”

He went on to recall how he got the job, joking, “One minute you’re making mint tea at home, the next you’re being asked to be the black face of the beleaguered white organization. Life comes really fast, you know?

But Carmichael admitted he was not so quick to take up the offer from Globes producer Stephen Hill. “I said Stephen, ‘I’m going to be honest with you, I’m a little torn because you know, one, this is a great opportunity. Thanks for the call. But I’m only being asked to host this because that I’m black,” Charmichael recalled. “And Stephen said, ‘Let me stop you there. You’re being asked to host this show because you’re talented. You’re being asked to host this show because you’re lovely but Stephens’ Black, so what does he know?”

Rich Polk/NBC via Getty

From there, Carmichael decided to contact a close friend for advice.

“I did what I do when I have a moral racial dilemma. I call home girl Avery, who for the purposes of this monologue represents every black person in America,” Charmichael teased. “And I said to Avery, I said, ‘Avery, they asked me to host the Golden Globes. I said, ‘You know, what should I do?’ And she said, “Oh, Buki, I’m so proud of you. Now remind me what award show is this again?”

“And I told her what the show was about, and I told her that last year didn’t air because of the black ban. And she was like, ‘Well, how many do they pay you? And I said, ‘Well, Avery, it’s not about the money. Honestly, it’s more of a moral issue, I should elaborate.’ She said, ‘…How much do they pay you?’ and I said “$500,000″. And she said, ‘Boy, if you don’t put on a good suit and take white people’s money.’ ”

All was well until Carmichael was invited to meet Helen Hoehne, president of the HFPA, which he jokingly called a “trap”.

“‘They don’t really ask, Jerrod. They insist you take the meeting,'” he recalled being told. “And I’m like, ‘Or what? They gonna fire me? They hadn’t had a black guest for 79 years. They will fire the first? I can’t be fired.

He also announced that the organization “has six new black members,” adding, “Congratulations to them!” but saying he took the job without even expecting the HFPA to make any changes.

Golden Globe Awards. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

The Golden Globes came under fire in February 2021, when a Los Angeles Times expo reported that there were no black members in the HFPA.

In May, NBC announced that it would not air the 2022 awards show following the negative news and reaction. Instead, the Golden Globes held a scaled-down ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Due to the surge in highly contagious Omicron COVID-19 cases at the time, no audience or nominees were in attendance.

The HFPA says it has taken steps to address the backlash. But the show’s lack of diversity among its former electorate wasn’t the only controversy surrounding the Golden Globes.

In 2018, Brendan Fraser claimed that former HFPA president Philip Berk sexually assaulted him in the summer of 2003 while having lunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel, an alleged incident Berk disputes. Amid his awards season buzz for The Whale, Fraser has since revealed he won’t be attending this year’s awards show.

And just last year, the Globes came under fire again when a reporter filed a lawsuit alleging HFPA members had accepted awards from award activists. ‘industry. The organization denied the allegations.

Golden Globes trophies. ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

Carmichael was announced as emcee for the 2023 ceremony on Dec. 8. This is the first time he has hosted a major awards ceremony.

“We are thrilled to have Jerrod Carmichael host the historic 80th Golden Globe Awards,” Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Helen Hoehne said in a statement to PEOPLE. “His acting skills entertained and thrilled audiences while providing reflective moments that are so important in the times we live in.”

“Jerrod is the special kind of talent this show calls on to kick off awards season,” Hoehne added.

The stand-up rose to fame as the creator and star of the NBC sitcom The Carmichael Show. He won an Emmy Award in September for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special in his HBO comedy special Rothaniel, during which he publicly came out as gay while recording the performance in front of an audience. live at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York. in February.

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The 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards airs live on NBC and Peacock.

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