New Details Surrounding Netflix’s ‘Emily in Paris’ Golden Globes Nominations Raises Ethical Questions

On February 3, a group of 87 international journalists belonging to an exclusive organization, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), announced its nominees for the Golden Globes.

The Golden Globes event intends to honor the best of American television and film. However, on February 21, the LA Times published an exposé surrounding the twice-nominated Emily in Paris and moral ambiguities of the HFPA. 

In 2019, 30+ members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., the group behind the show, flew to France to visit the set of the new series.

Paramount Network treated them to a 2-night stay at a 5-star hotel where rooms start at about $1,400/night https://t.co/Gp0y4UAvgt pic.twitter.com/kmhGgdLICy

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) February 22, 2021

Emily in Paris debuted on Netflix on October 2, 2020, and was met with mixed reviews from critics and viewers alike. When the show received two highly coveted Golden Globe nominations, other shows like I May Destroy You received zero nominations despite having recieved more love and support from critics and audiences.

The show received a nomination for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy. The HFPA nominated Lily Collins for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy for her role as the titular character, Emily Cooper.

Now, a week before the Golden Globes ceremony takes place, people are discovering the Netflix show may have bribed its way into the award show.

so emily in paris bought its golden globe nominations https://t.co/xbzJnMdlpB pic.twitter.com/HpbEWgy7oV

— baby (@a24kaz) February 22, 2021

During the production of Emily in Paris, 30 members of the HFPA took part in a set visit. Paramount Network housed these 30 members, a little over one-third of the voting block, to a two-night stay at a five-star hotel, The Peninsula Paris.

Okay, the way “Emily in Paris” potentially got nominated is sketchhhh, but I honestly adored that show and have seen it twice and believe there is great merit in entertainment that purely provides joy and escapism.

— Aviva Peltin (@avivapeltin) February 23, 2021

Moreover, the group later attended a lunch and a news conference at the private Musée des Arts Forains museum. Set visits are not illegal or morally reprehensible but visits to a $1,400/night hotel and a museum with 19th-century theme park attractions begin to greatly blur the line between exposure and bribery. These newfound facts have raised ethical questions concerning the network bribing the HFPA.

Emily in Paris is entertaining on some levels, but is it really Golden Globe worthy? Thoughts?

— Noemie G (@noemiegokhool) February 23, 2021

Despite revamping its public image in the past five years, the HFPA is no stranger to controversy, and Emily in Paris is not the first scandal facing the HFPA. Last year, the organization faced an antitrust lawsuit, and actors like Gary Oldman and Ricky Gervais have openly criticized the organization. 

The increased criticism surrounding the organization’s bribery accusations, antitrust lawsuits, and failure to nominate Black-led films and television series in top categories – the only Black-led nominee Lovecraft Country takes place during 1950s segregation – bring into question the longevity of the award show.

You can read more about the controversy surrounding its members and other nominations in our other in-depth article here. The Golden Globes will take place Sunday, February 28 at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on NBC, and available to stream the next day on NBC Peacock.