The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.
Michael Buckner/PMC Studios
As the Israel-Hamas crisis enters its third month, Hollywood, with its sizable Jewish population and growing disagreements between liberals and progressives on justice issues, has become a proxy stage for information battles in the conflict. Industry insiders associated with the Golden Globes are concerned that activists could exploit the global reach of the awards season opener, the first to be televised since the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre, for their own purposes.
Beverly Hills police told they are working with neighboring law enforcement agencies as well as the FBI to prepare for protests. “At this time we are not aware of any threats to the events or their participants. However, we are aware of world events,” says Lieutenant Renato Moreno. “As a result, we have hired additional police personnel.”
The FBI, in collaboration with the LAPD, fire departments and other local government agencies, prepares special event threat assessments in advance of the entertainment industry's most high-profile gatherings to assist private security planners and law enforcement personnel. These reports highlight potential concerns, such as attacks by extremist groups, as well as “possible indicators of pre-operational surveillance or attack planning,” according to an unclassified memo reviewed by THR. Attempts to obtain sensitive information about security measures in the facility and in the immediate surroundings are observed. Such assessments do not include nonviolent civil disobedience tactics such as unlicensed protests because they are outside federal jurisdiction.
Pro-Palestinian protesters, often led by a coalition of anti-Zionist Jewish organizations including IfNotNow, have blocked major roads across the L.A. area in recent months and attempted to use sit-ins to draw attention to the growing death toll in Gaza. Police have broken up such activity at the busy intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue outside LAX and along the 110 Freeway in downtown LA. On the afternoon of Globes Sunday, a solidarity march calling for a ceasefire and an end to U.S. aid to Israel will be held in front of the Israeli Consulate General in West LA, about 3.5 miles west of the Beverly Hilton. (IfNotNow did not respond to a question about whether any activities were planned at the Globes.)
Some attendees and their representatives fear that protesters will try to confront people in their vehicles or intentionally prevent them from getting to the fair by blocking the road and causing significant delays. It's a timely reminder for Globes-goers who also attended President Biden's heavily protested fundraiser in December at the Holmby Hills home of designer Michael Smith, a darling of industry moguls, and his husband, the former U.S. ambassador to Spain. James Costos, a former HBO executive.
The Globes' default policy was that no personal security guards were allowed to accompany talent on the red carpet. Nevertheless, certain exceptions were made as representatives vigorously resisted in the face of evolving security concerns.
Ahead of the Globes, Israeli hostage-taking organization Bring Them Home quietly worked with publicists and agents to present industry participants — mostly executives, agents, managers and stylists — with a wearable yellow ribbon in recognition of the 136 people still in Captivity. Such colored ribbons became symbols of awareness during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. Veteran Hollywood branding entrepreneur Ashlee Margolis coordinated the process through her company The A List. (A Globes spokesperson emphasized that the organization was not involved in the ribbon effort.)
There are no plans to organize Globes attendees to support the Palestinian cause, says a person who advocates for the Muslim community in the industry, for fear of professional and social reprisals. “Many in the entertainment industry, regardless of their religious background and ethnicity, are reluctant to openly discuss the Palestine-Israel conflict if they harbor pro-Palestinian sentiments. “The potential for backlash on social media, damage to personal and professional reputations, and sabotage of careers is scary and real,” the source says, adding that it is refreshing to see the likes of John Cusack, Angelina Jolie and Marcia Cross to see people expressing their support. “It would be a dream if one day a celebrity could go on stage wearing a keffiyeh without being called an anti-Semite. Wanting an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine does not mean being anti-Semitic. The existence of Israel and the existence of a free Palestine at the same time can be true.”
It remains to be seen whether any stars will risk backlash by making a forceful or even muted statement in front of such a large audience. Julianna Margulies apologized after declaring that black and LGBTQ supporters of Palestine had been “brainwashed to hate Jews.” Melissa Barrera was banned from Scream VII after posting a series of comments about Gaza in which she referred to it as a “concentration camp” and described the current situation there as “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing.” As the death toll rises in Gaza and even the hostage issue becomes polarized, it is unclear whether even influential leaders without a public profile will be willing to put their best foot forward.
Nevertheless, numerous talents who have called for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza will take the stage on Sunday evening. Nominees who signed the letter include Bradley Cooper, Lily Gladstone, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, Joaquin Phoenix, David Oyelowo, Wanda Sykes, Selena Gomez, Quinta Brunson, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook and Brian Cox — who also released a widely viewed video in which he read the work of Refaat Alareer, a Palestinian poet who was killed in a bombing in December. In addition, the honorees who signed the award are Ben Affleck, Dua Lipa, America Ferrera, Florence Pugh and Naomi Watts. This year's field of nominees also includes Amy Schumer and Sarah Silverman, both of whom clearly expressed their support for Israel following the violence that erupted on October 7th.
Winners of major awards shows traditionally use their acceptance speeches not only as a thank you, but also use the nationally televised moment in front of an audience of millions to highlight their personal point of view. In recent years, these have included domestic politics (such as Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro's condemnations of Donald Trump's presidency) and industrial politics (Patricia Arquette, Frances McDormand and Natalie Portman's highlighting of gender inequality). The longest such focus, however, has been on foreign policy, including Sean Penn and Michael Moore's criticism of the Iraq invasion during the 2003 Oscar telecast.
The conflict between Israel and Palestine itself has repeatedly caused excitement on television in the past. After the anti-Arab Jewish Defense League (later classified as a hate group by the FBI) burned an effigy of Oscar nominee Vanessa Redgrave in front of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in 1978 because of her support for the Palestine Liberation Organization, they took advantage of her time at the microphone after Julia was named best Supporting Actress was awarded for “denouncing the threats of a small group of Zionist gangsters whose behavior is an insult to the stature of Jews around the world.” Later in the show, host Paddy Chayefsky, who had won a screenwriting Oscar the previous year for Network, remarked from the stage: “I would like to point out to Miss Redgrave that her winning an Oscar is not a defining moment in history, requires no proclamation.” and a simple “thank you” would have been enough.”
This would already be a momentous year for the Globes, which will now air on CBS and stream on Paramount+. After controversy and backlash over scandals surrounding the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the group that previously ran the awards show, the company ended its previous association with NBC. Problems included a lack of diversity among members and allegations of financial self-dealing and ethical corruption. In June 2023, live events company Dick Clark Productions and investment firm Eldridge Industries acquired the Globes from the HFPA and revamped the organization. (DCP is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge, which also owns THR.)
Despite the reputational problems, the Globes audience remains highly valued. Just last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a professional actor before he came to power, used the platform for a high-profile speech to his allies amid his stalled war with Russia: “There are still fights and tears ahead, but now can I’ll definitely tell you.” Who was the best last year: It was you. The free people of the free world.”
The Beverly Hilton, which has long hosted the Globes, has itself tried to avoid protests this year leading up to its flagship event. (Eldridge, THR's co-owner, also has a stake in the hotel.) Unite Here Local 11, the powerful hotel union that has been roiling the region's hotel scene since last summer, just reached an early agreement with the Beverly Hilton, which is now time for nominations .
Additional reporting by Rebecca Sun.