In an unexpected move of protest against the Golden Globe awards, film star Tom Cruise has returned the awards he received for best actor in Born on the Fourth of July and Jerry Maguire, and for best supporting actor in Magnolia.
The gesture, in protest of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), was made because of the significant lack of diversity in the HFPA. The organization does not contain one single black member.
Cruise is just the latest in a growing field of people to speak out against the HFPA, according to Deadline.
"Sources said this just happened, as the Golden Globes house of cards continues to crumble and NBC cancelled next year's broadcast. Cruise becomes the latest star to speak out, including Netflix, Amazon, and NBC among others over the slow crawl the organization is making to reform its lack of diversity."
Cruise isn't the first actor to openly stand against the HFPA, either.
Scarlett Johansson called the organization something that "was legitimized by the likes of Harvey Weinstein to amass momentum for Academy recognition, and the industry followed suit."
"Unless there is necessary fundamental reform within the organization, I believe it is time that we take a step back from the HFPA and focus on the importance and strength of unity within our unions and the industry as a whole."
Johansson also said that she faced "sexist questions and remarks by certain HFPA members that bordered on sexual harassment."
Cruise himself has not commented on his action, but momentum against the HFPA continues to grow as NBC recently announced it will no longer air the Golden Globes beginning in 2022 due to the organization's lack of diversity.
If the movement picks up speed, it could mean a re-shuffling of Hollywood altogether.
