Former members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association have sued Penske Media and other parties, alleging that the Golden Globes were acquired through fraud and anticompetitive conduct.
The allegations
The plaintiffs claim the awards show was deliberately devalued during a boycott and that conflicts surrounding the 2023 transaction were not properly disclosed. They seek $150 million and reversal of the HFPA’s dissolution.
The defendants’ response
A spokesperson for the current owners rejected the case as irrational and portrayed it as a distraction from charitable work. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Awards show with a troubled history
The Golden Globes had already faced criticism over ethics, membership diversity and voting practices. Those controversies prompted industry boycotts and major organisational reforms before the ownership change.
The new lawsuit will test whether that restructuring was a legitimate rescue of a damaged institution or, as the former members allege, an improperly engineered takeover. The filing represents one side’s claims and should not be treated as a final finding.
