"That was just a weird open": Fans react to host Jerrod Carmichael addressing the HFPA controversy at the Golden Globe 2023

The 80th Golden Globe 2023 awards ceremony aired live on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at 8 pm ET on NBC and Peacock.

After a notable absence on television following controversies surrounding lack of diversity in the jury, the prestigious award ceremony was back on television and was broadcast live from the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles. The award show recognized some of the most prominent names from the film and television industry.

Host Jerrod Carmichael opened the Golden Globe 2023 show by addressing the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) controversy that led to program not having been aired in the previous year. The Golden Globe awards didn't air on television in 2022 after the Los Angeles Times revealed that there wereno black members in the HFPA.

This year, however, the association has added more diverse members to its voting pool, signaling a green light for the 2023 awards.

Through his comic skills, Jerrod Carmichael indrectly threw subtle shades at the controversy, receiving some laughs from the audience. Fans, however, didn't like the opening. One tweeted:

---

Jerrod Carmichael addresses the HFPA controversy on in the Golden Globe 2023 show

Host Jerrod Carmichael took to the stage to open the Golden Globe 2023 ceremony. As he stepped on stage, he welcomed everyone to the 80th installment of the prestigious award show. He then introduced himself to the audience and stated that he was there because "I'm Black." This was a subtle dig to the HFPA controversy that had prevented the show from airing last year.

The Golden Globe 2023, which had long been billed as the "Hollywood Party of the Year," was embroiled in a deep controversy last year that led to NBC pulling the plug in 2022.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) is made up of recognized international journalists who act as the jury to hand out the awards. Last year, the LA Times ran an expose that revealed the lack of diversity - there were no black members in the voting pool.

This expose of the Golden Globe's jury led to strong reactions from the audience as well as celebrities, including actor Tom Cruise, who handed back his three awards in light of the controversy.

US comedian Jerrod Carmichael started the show by explaining the controversy, but further said:

"I won't say they [HFPA] is a racist organisation, but they didn't have a single black member until George Floyd died. So do with that information what you will."

Throughout his monologue for the opening of the Golden Globe 2023, the host threw shade at the controversy. He explained how he was cast as the host not because he was black but because he was talented, but even the "exective producer, Stephen Hill, is black so what does he know."

Jerrod continued to add more insight into the controversy by stating that he refused to have a conversation with the President of the HFPA just because he feared getting into the trap. However, after a lot of persistence, his response was:

"Or what? They're gonna fire me? They haven't had a black host in 79 years, they're gonna fire the first one? I'm unfire-able."

---

Fans react to Golden Globe 2023 host addressing the controversy

Fans weren't too keen on comedian Jerrod Carmichael's monologue ahead of the ceremony. While some felt that the opening was dry, others felt that the show could've had another host. Check out what they had to say:

---

Five-time Golden Globe winner and 16-time nominee Ryan Murphy was honored with the Carol Burnett Award for his work as a creative artist in the television genre at the Golden Globe 2023. Eddie Murphy was awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award for his outstanding contribution to the entertainment industry.