The exclusive group of film journalists that gives the Golden Globes was cited Monday of destroying non-members while gorging on lavish perks and unique access to Hollywood stars.
An antitrust suit registered upon the Hollywood Foreign Press Association stated the organization illegally monopolized entertainment reporting in Los Angeles while performing near-impossible barriers to entry for new members.
“All year long, HFPA members enjoy all-expenses-paid trips to film festivals around the world where the studios treat them lavishly and accommodate their every desire,” stated the lawsuit led by Norwegian journalist Kjersti Flaa.
Yet its membership — which particularly judges who walk away with the coveted Globes each year — is shrouded in mystery.
Though some members work for well-respected foreign media outlets, many are freelancers writing for obscure publications.
The suit details examples of members being wined and dined by Hollywood studios, including a Disney press trip to a Singapore five-star hotel last year.
Flaa, the plaintiff, appealed for membership in 2018 and last year but was rejected both times by the authority.
In her lawsuit, Flaa accuses rival Scandinavian journalists of pressing her entry even though she is qualified to participate according to HFPA criteria.
Any foreign journalist seeking entry must be sponsored by two members, and a newcomer’s application can be rejected if one member of the association vetoes it.
The HFPA, which has sought to bring younger members in recent years and earned accolades for its charity work, did not immediately respond to request for comment.
