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HFPA Sues Penske Media for $150M Over Golden Globes Scheme
28 Jul
Summary
- HFPA lawsuit accuses Penske Media of a clandestine plot to seize the Golden Globes.
- The organization seeks at least $150 million in damages and cancellation of acquisition.
- The suit alleges a scheme to devalue the HFPA and make it vulnerable to acquisition.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), formerly responsible for the Golden Globe Awards, has initiated a federal lawsuit against Penske Media. The lawsuit, filed on July 28, 2026, accuses Penske Media and its chairman, Jay Penske, of orchestrating a "clandestine" plot to gain control of the prestigious awards show. The HFPA contends that this "illicit scheme" led to the dissolution of the 80-year-old organization.
The organization is demanding at least $150 million in damages and a court order to nullify the acquisition of the Golden Globes' assets. The complaint details an alleged plan initiated around 2021, where Penske and associates purportedly used controlled trade publications to instigate a boycott against the HFPA. This action, coinciding with industry-wide protests over diversity and ethical concerns, resulted in major companies boycotting the group and NBC pulling the 2022 awards off the air.
Despite the HFPA implementing structural reforms, it was eventually dissolved. Dick Clark Productions and Eldridge announced in June 2023 that they had taken over the awards show. The lawsuit suggests that Penske's acquisition granted them "monopolistic control" over multiple major award shows and Hollywood trade publications, which handle advertising packages for award contestants.
A spokesperson for the Golden Globes dismissed the lawsuit as "absurdity and irrationality," criticizing the HFPA for its history of "ethical failures, non-inclusivity, racism, and misconduct."
