This isn’t a shock to anyone familiar with award ceremonies and the machinations in Hollywood, but apparently people are using MONEY to buy INFLUENCE and AWARDS.
And apparently Santa Claus isn’t real, and those freckles aren’t really freckles, they’re a sexually transmitted disease, and hurrrdurr. For the longest time, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has been the subject of rumors of payola schemes and bribery, going as far back the scandal in the 80’s when Pia Zadora was awarded a Golden Globe for a movie that bombed so badly no-one can care to recall it. But now HFPA’s leading publicist for the last two years is suing the organization for 2 million dollars — claiming that the group accepted bribes for recognizing certain films in their ceremony. Evidence that the HFPA accepts bribes can be seen pretty much yearly to anyone who actually watches the ceremony – Robert Downey Jr. won best actor last year for Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock Holmes. Good movie, sure, but best actor? Really?
This year, The Tourist and Alice in Wonderland were nominated. Last year, Avatar won best picture. You can pretty much do the math for yourself.
The HFPA and its President Philip Berk were named in the lawsuit.
Comments
MISHMISH
January 19th, 2011 - 5:25:40 PM
please fact check: pia zadora won not for a movie, but best newcomer. in the same year, the theater owners association gave her the same award. and winning is "evidence"? Downey won for comedy. Avatar won a load at the Oscars, including best director. This year, alice and Tourist got nominated but did not win a thing do the math? yes please, but before that do some fact checking, as a responsible journalist. do not just cut and paste rumors. And do google michael russell ripoff, to find some interesting stuff. thanks.
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