The Golden Globes 2023 has kickstarted this year’s awards season with it’s famous display of glitz and glamour in Hollywood.

‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ was a star of the show after previously receiving eight nominations and winning three prizes – Best Musical or Comedy Film, Best Screenplay and Best Comedy Actor which went to the renowned actor Colin Farrell.

Despite being a night of celebration for those who won, a handful of actors did not attend. Most notably, Zendaya who was the winner of Best Actress in a Drama TV series for her performance in Euphoria, was not in attendance as she was reportedly busy working.

However, one actor had a more controversial reason for skipping the show. Brendan Fraser, who was nominated for Best Actor in a Drama Motion Picture for his role in The Whale previously said he would not be attending the event after accusing the former president of the HFPA in 2003 of sexual assault.

Scarlett Johansson also spoke out against the HFPA in May 2021 saying: “Unless there is necessary fundamental reform within the organisation, I believe it is time that we take a step back from the HFPA.”

The awards show had been held in private last year at the Beverly Hills Hotel after the controversy that came out in February 2021 over the lack of diversity in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The Los Angeles Times published that the HFPA had no Black members, provoking accusations of bias as, at the time, 87 of the association’s members were voting on who would win the awards and potentially swaying the decisions of who would win at the Oscars.

Change is expected by many in order to fix the issues discovered behind the scenes. Oscar-winning Director, Sam Mendes has spoken out in recent days announcing his support for the removal of gendered categories stating this change is ‘inevitable’. This came following actor Emma Corrin who identifies as non-binary having said: “I don’t think the categories are inclusive enough at the moment.”