Jada Pinkett Smith Has 'So Much to Say' About the Golden Globes Snubbing 'Girls Trip'
When the Golden Globe nominations were announced Monday (December 11), one film was glaringly absent from the list: Girls Trip. The film—which hit theaters over the summer and starred Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Regina Hall, and breakout star Tiffany Haddish—was unanimously praised by critics and killed it at the box office.
The latter achievement was particularly impressive—and important—because it proved, once and for all, that entertainment starring women of color isn’t niche. People from all walks of life are interested in seeing these stories. They’re also just interested in genuinely good, funny films—which is exactly what Girls Trip was. The fact that it didn’t earn a nomination for Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) and that Haddish was ignored in the Best Supporting Actress category is problematic, to say the least.
Pinkett thinks so, too. The actress posted to Twitter on Monday (December 11) that she had “so much to say” about why Haddish and the film were snubbed by the Globes, but that she was going to remain tight-lipped. That didn’t last long, though: On Tuesday (December 12), she opened the floodgates, calling out the “antiquated system” that made the Hollywood Foreign Press Association ignore Girls Trip. Here it is, in full:
“I’m not upset about @TiffanyHaddish or @GirlsTripMovie not getting a
nom… I’m discouraged about the fact that the Hollywood Foreign
Press/@goldenglobes wouldn’t even WATCH the movie. Girls Trip was one
of the most successful films this summer & Tiff was hands down the
funniest person on screen in 2017 and we couldn’t get eyes on the film
or a press conference. How could a nom happen & how much more critical
acclaim must a movie have to simply get a screening? But yet… Tiff
has been asked to present at their ceremony. This isn’t about shaming,
this is about the need for discussion of an antiquated system. And I
dare not invalidate all the many journalist and people from all walks
of life who have supported this movie by defining the issue as
simply… racism. Hollywood has systems in place that must learn to
expand its concepts of race, gender equality and inclusion in regard
to its perceptions of art across the board. The fact that the
brilliance of @TheBigSickMovie went unnoticed and the fact that one of
the most prolific films of the year, @GetOutMovie, is considered a
comedy… illuminates the depths of the sunken place… for real.
Moments like this occur so that we have an opportunity to discuss,
recreate and regenerate old paradigms. It’s all about growth. Love.”
Here are her tweets:
As Pinkett said, it’s time for Hollywood to eradicate the institutions that keep work from artists of color on the outskirts of awards season. Girls Trip deserves way better—so many films and television shows do.
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