When he took the stage for his monologue, first-time Golden Globes host Jerrod Carmichael did not shy away from addressing the elephant in the room. After entering the stage without a microphone, he calmed the audience with his signature understatement and got right to the point: “Welcome to the 80th annual Golden Globe awards. The host is Jerrod Carmichael. And I will explain why I am here. I am present because I am Black.
Yes, Carmichael’s speech directly addressed one of the numerous scandals that have been ailing the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Instead of gleefully ridiculing the celebrity crowd like previous hosts Ricky Gervais or Tina Fey and Amy Poehler desired, Carmichael brought the audience in the room and at home up to speed on the reason why the Golden Globes were not held last year and will be on a Tuesday this year. A report published by the LA Times in 2020 indicated a history of systemic racism inside the HFPA.
Carmichael remarked, “I won’t say they were a racist group, but until George Floyd died, they didn’t have a single Black member. Use this information as you see fit.”
“Why am I standing on stage?” Carmichael continued. “I was actually at home. Drinking tea. And I received a call from my man Stephen Hill… It would be an honor if you agreed to host the 80th Golden Globe Awards, he said. And I was like, ‘Whoa.’ You see? One moment you’re making mint tea at home, and the next you’re asked to be the Black face of a troubled white corporation. In response, the crowd laughed.
Carmichael recalled that he informed Hill that he was conflicted because “I’m only being asked to host this because I’m Black.”
Hill then allegedly informed Carmichael that he was invited to host the show because he was “talented…charming…and one of the greatest comedians of a generation.” Carmichael absorbed this information before joking, “But Stephen is Black, so what does he know? They will not tell him why he is here either.”
Carmichael then recalled going to his “homegirl Avery,” to whom he turns whenever he faces a “moral/racial quandary.” Avery reduced the question to whether or not he was paid. Carmichael opined that where he came from, “we all live by a strict “take the money” mentality” after realizing the amount was $500,000 and she gave him permission to proceed.
Carmichael then disclosed that Helen Hoehne, the president of the HFPA, attempted three times to “educate” him on the organizational changes in a one-on-one meeting.
Carmichael then disclosed, “I assumed they had not altered when I accepted this position. I heard that they recruited six more Black members. Congratulations to them, whatever. However, it is not why I am here.”
“I’m here because I see a lot of talented people in this room,” he stated in all sincerity. “And regardless of the history of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, this evening is one of celebration, and I believe this business deserves such occasions, so I’m glad you’re all here. And I hope you enjoy yourselves tonight.”
The 2023 Golden Globes will be Carmichael’s first significant attempt as a host of an awards event. The comedian previously starred in his own NBC sitcom, The Carmichael Show, and his most recent Bo Burnham-directed HBO special, Rothaniel, won widespread acclaim. In the special, Carmichael revealed his homosexuality. Since then, Carmichael has hosted Saturday Night Live and earned an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special for his work on the special Rothaniel.
As he did on The Carmichael Show and in Rothaniel, Carmichael defied expectations by approaching the Golden Globes hosting position in his own manner…
He expressed his own views on racism, the industry, and life with complete sincerity.
When he took the stage for his monologue, first-time Golden Globes host Jerrod Carmichael did not shy away from addressing the elephant in the room. After entering the stage without a microphone, he calmed the audience with his signature understatement and got right to the point: “Welcome to the 80th annual Golden Globe awards. The host is Jerrod Carmichael. And I will explain why I am here. I am present because I am Black.
Yes, Carmichael’s speech directly addressed one of the numerous scandals that have been ailing the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Instead of gleefully ridiculing the celebrity crowd like previous hosts Ricky Gervais or Tina Fey and Amy Poehler desired, Carmichael brought the audience in the room and at home up to speed on the reason why the Golden Globes were not held last year and will be on a Tuesday this year. A report published by the LA Times in 2020 indicated a history of systemic racism inside the HFPA.
Carmichael remarked, “I won’t say they were a racist group, but until George Floyd died, they didn’t have a single Black member. Use this information as you see fit.”
“Why am I standing on stage?” Carmichael continued. “I was actually at home. consuming tea And I received a call from my man Stephen Hill… It would be an honor if you agreed to host the 80th Golden Globe Awards, he said. And I was like, ‘Whoa.’ You see? One moment you’re making mint tea at home, and the next you’re asked to be the Black face of a troubled white corporation. In response, the crowd laughed.
Carmichael recalled that he informed Hill that he was conflicted because “I’m only being asked to host this because I’m Black.”
Hill then allegedly informed Carmichael that he was invited to host the show because he was “talented…charming…and one of the greatest comedians of a generation.” Carmichael absorbed this information before joking, “But Stephen is Black, so what does he know? They will not tell him why he is here either.”
Carmichael then recalled going to his “homegirl Avery,” to whom he turns whenever he faces a “moral/racial quandary.” Avery reduced the question to whether or not he was paid. Carmichael opined that where he came from, “we all live by a strict “take the money” mentality” after realizing the amount was $500,000 and she gave him permission to proceed.
Carmichael then disclosed that Helen Hoehne, the president of the HFPA, attempted three times to “educate” him on the organizational changes in a one-on-one meeting.
Carmichael then disclosed, “I assumed they had not altered when I accepted this position. I heard that they recruited six more Black members. Congratulations to them, whatever. However, it is not why I am here.”
“I’m here because I see a lot of talented people in this room,” he stated in all sincerity. “And regardless of the history of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, this evening is one of celebration, and I believe this business deserves such occasions, so I’m glad you’re all here. And I hope you enjoy yourselves tonight.”
The 2023 Golden Globes will be Carmichael’s first significant attempt as a host of an awards event. The comedian previously starred in his own NBC sitcom, The Carmichael Show, and his most recent Bo Burnham-directed HBO special, Rothaniel, won widespread acclaim. In the special, Carmichael revealed his homosexuality. Since then, Carmichael has hosted Saturday Night Live and earned an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special for his work on the special Rothaniel.
As he did on The Carmichael Show and in Rothaniel, Carmichael defied expectations by approaching the Golden Globes hosting position in his own manner…
He expressed his own views on racism, the industry, and life with complete sincerity.