The Hollywood Foreign Press Assoc. has announced, via its board, that effective immediately, Phil Berk is no longer a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
The move comes just hours after NBC, in a statement, suggested that the network’s telecast of the Golden Globes was in jeopardy if the HFPA didn’t take swift action on Berk. “NBC strongly condemns Phil Berk’s actions and is calling for his immediate expulsion,” the network said. “While we continue to await the details of HFPA’s upcoming plan for reform, swift action on this front is an essential element for NBC to move forward with the HFPA and the Golden Globes.”
Frustrated Peacock execs have been waiting on the HFPA to reveal a full plan on how to reform the organization, following previous reports by the Los Angeles Times that revealed the fact that the organization does not have a single Black member, as well as questionable financial practices.
But most recently, the Times noted a Berk email, sent to HFPA members, quoting an article that called the Black Lives Matter organization a “racist hate movement” and claiming that Black Lives Matters’ Patrisse Cullors was a “self-proclaimed trained Marxist.”
In response, mortified HFPA members condemned Berk in response to the email. In a statement, the org added, “Since its inception, the HFPA has dedicated itself to bridging cultural connections and creating further understanding of different backgrounds through film and TV. The views expressed in the article circulated by Mr. Berk are those of the author of the article and do not — in any way shape or form – reflect the views and values of the HFPA. The HFPA condemns all forms of racism, discrimination and hate speech and finds such language and content unacceptable.”
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