Will Chris Rock host the Golden Globes 2023?
After being accosted by Will Smith at this year’s Oscars, the comedian has reportedly received a lucrative offer to emcee at another awards ceremony.
The Golden Globes will return as a televised spectacular in2023 after a behind-closed-doors ceremony last year. The organising body had been criticised for a lack of diversity and a number of invitees, along with long-time broadcaster NBC, refused to support the show, forcing officials to cancel the normal star-studded event.
However the showbiz ceremony will be back in 2023 and the organisers are hoping to snare a big-name host for the event. They have reportedly offered comedian Chris Rock “a sh*t load” of money to appear on stage, after his infamous altercation with Will Smith at this year’s Academy Awards.
Rock was one of a number of hosts for the 2022 Academy Awards but it was his joke at the expense of Smith’s wife, Jada, which stole the show when the Fresh Prince star took to the stage. Smith’s slap made waves online and Rock would certainly bring in a big audience if he were to host.
However a report published by The Puck states that the comedian has turned down the lucrative offer. Rock is also thought to have rejected an offer to return to the Oscars to emcee for the 2023 ceremony, and perhaps understandably so.
Golden Globes to return for the ‘party of the year’
This year’s Golden Globes, the awards ceremony hosted by the Holly Foreign Press Association (HFPA), were awarded in private due to a widespread boycott in the industry. Organisers were unable to find a broadcaster for the show and nominees were reportedly unwilling to accept awards after a diversity scandal.
A 2021 Los Angeles Times expose revealed that the HFPA had no black members involved in the voting for winners and there were credible allegations of ‘incentives’ being offered to judges to influence the vote.
However the HFPA has since added another 103 new voters to make the panels more representative, with members now coming from 62 different countries.
A statement from the HFPA reads: “Combined with the current HFPA membership, the total Golden Globe Awards voting body is now 52% female, 51.5% racially and ethnically diverse, with 19.5% Latinx, 12% Asian, 10% Black and 10% Middle Eastern.”
Organisers will hope to make next year’s ceremony particularly eye-catching to make up for the lost event, although they are yet to confirm a host after Chris Rock’s refusal.
HFPA president Helen Hoehne said: “We are thrilled to announce the return of the Golden Globe Awards on NBC and to host the ‘party of the year’ for audiences around the world who have been waiting for its return.”