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Former Golden Globes Publicist Sues Hollywood Foreign Press Association For Accepting Bribes
Posted on Mon Jan 17, 2011 02:47 PM PDT
 Courtesy: HFPA |
It seems Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais' cracks about the Hollywood Foreign Press Association accepting bribes to nominate films like The Tourist weren't too far off.
Former GG lead publicist Michael Russell, who had held his position since 1993, filed a $2 million lawsuit Thursday after he and his company were immediately fired for accusing the HFPA of accepting "payola", aka bribes, in connection with the show.
The suit also claims HFPA president Philip Berk, who is named as a defendant, refused to end the alleged "unethical and potentially unlawful deals" many of the 90-some members engage in.
The suit states:
- "Berk expressly acknowledged to Russell that these activities were problematic and the HFPA was a corrupt organization, that it’s members are only out to use the organization to generate income for themselves and that many conflicts of interest exist with regard to the above-specified activities of the HFPA and it’s members."
In case you're wondering what these alleged "bribes" entail, here are a list of allegations from the suit:
- -HFPA members accept lavish vacations, junket lodging, gifts and awesome freebies provided by studios, in exchange for their support in nominating specific films.
-Members sell their media credentials for cash by offering space on the red carpet.
-Members offer low profile or unknown media outlets an opportunity to cover the Globes, in exchange for cash.
-Members accept payment from studios and producers for "representing" films
-Members accept payment in exchanged for promoting other HFPA members for Globe nominations and awards.
Reps for the HFPA released a statement claiming the "allegations are completely without merit," and reveal, "this is no more than the case of a disgruntled former consulting firm, whose contract was not renewed, attempting to take advantage once again of the Globe’s international stage for their own gain.”
Those Golden Globes don't come for free!
Is it fair for HFPA members to accept bribes?
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Comments
All award shows are a joke, this has been going on since the beginning of time.
Despite the denials the Golden Globe officials may issue, the nominations for The Tourist proves these allegations are completely, 100% true.
That''s why they nominate fags and promote homosexual films; sick people.
I'm not surprised. There is no way that
The Tourist should have been nominated
for a thing and it certainly wasn't a
comedy. It took away from someone really deserving. Perhaps thats one
of the reasons certain stars always get
good press whether they deserve it or
not. I can't see how having a skinny,
big mouthed woman faking a good time did
them much good. However Ricky was the
highlight of the show. If he hadn't been
on it, I wouldn't have watched.
the tourist was a good movie i liked it it definitely shouldn't have been in the comedy category though
ok it was never mentioned which films so why do people assume "the tourist" was one of them