HFPA Files $150 Million Lawsuit Against Penske Media Over Golden Globes Takeover
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) filed an antitrust lawsuit in a Los Angeles federal court against Penske Media Corporation (parent company of Variety), challenging the manner in which it acquired the rights to the Golden Globe Awards in 2023.
In the lawsuit, the HFPA accuses Penske Media of executing a fraudulent and orchestrated scheme to take control of the prestigious cinematic event, alleging that it previously incited boycotts against the Golden Globes to weaken its financial standing and pave the way for a forced acquisition.
In response, a spokesperson for Penske Media and the Golden Globes fully rejected these claims, calling the lawsuit an irrational action by a defunct organization.
The HFPA, previously a non-profit organization composed of international journalists, had been responsible for organizing the Golden Globes for nearly eight decades. However, following an expository 2021 report highlighting the absence of Black members within the association, a wave of boycotts and media backlash ensued, resulting in the cancellation of the ceremony’s television broadcast in 2022.
According to the complaint, HFPA members agreed to transfer the Golden Globe rights to Dick Clark Productions and Eldridge (subsidiaries of Penske) under the promise that they would retain lifetime voting rights and perpetual tickets to the ceremony; however, Penske later reneged on this promise, conditioning these rights on accepting direct employment within its subsidiaries.
The HFPA claims these actions stripped the voters of their independence and established a Penske monopoly over the media and advertising markets for entertainment awards. The association is seeking at least $150 million in damages in its lawsuit. Meanwhile, Penske Media’s spokesperson emphasized that the acquisition agreement was finalized over three years ago with all required legal approvals, and any claim to reverse or void the deal is completely baseless.
