Judd Apatow Ends 10-Year Golden Globes Boycott Over Comedy Snub
The comedy filmmaker finally broke his silence about a decade-long protest against the awards show, revealing the surprising reason behind his quiet rebellion during Sunday night's ceremony.
Comedy director Judd Apatow broke a decade of silence Sunday night, revealing he had been quietly boycotting the Golden Globes for 10 years. While presenting the Best Director award, Apatow couldn't resist sharing his long-held grievance with the ceremony.
The filmmaker admitted his protest began after his 2015 film 'Trainwreck' lost the Best Comedy award to Ridley Scott's 'The Martian.' Apatow joked about the absurdity of the situation during his presentation.
"Because I've been boycotting the ceremony for about 10 years. A very quiet boycott, no one seems to have noticed. We've had beef ever since my film 'Trainwreck' lost best comedy to Ridley Scott's 'The Martian.'"
Both films competed in 2015, though 'The Martian' was primarily a sci-fi survival thriller. The space drama earned its comedy nomination largely due to Matt Damon's character Mark Watney's humorous approach to surviving alone on Mars.
Apatow's Comedic Jabs at Scott's Filmography
Apatow didn't hold back his sarcasm when discussing Scott's unexpected comedy win. He referenced the veteran director's typically serious filmography during his presentation remarks.
"You know, Ridley Scott. America's favorite comedy director. Director of such hilarious comedies as Gladiator, Blade Runner, and Alien. I can't wait till later tonight when Best Comedy is won by Hamnet."
The joke referenced Chloé Zhao's emotional play about William Shakespeare processing his son's death through writing. Despite the pointed humor, Apatow chose to end his boycott on a reconciliatory note.
Making Peace and Moving Forward
Before announcing Paul Thomas Anderson as the Best Director winner for 'One Battle After Another,' Apatow made a brief political comment about America's current state. He mentioned COVID, described the country as a dictatorship, but admitted he remained focused on his 'Martian' grievance.
"As an example to inspire America, I'm going to squash that beef and start the healing right now."
The director's decision to end his protest came after years of what many considered category fraud in Hollywood awards.
The Martian Rule Changes Everything
'The Martian' competed in Musical/Comedy rather than Drama in 2016, facing less competition from heavy hitters like Leonardo DiCaprio's 'The Revenant,' 'Spotlight,' and 'Mad Max: Fury Road.' Studios could choose their submission categories at the time.
The strategy worked. Both Matt Damon and the film won Golden Globes in their respective categories. Apatow's public criticism in 2016 prompted the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to implement new rules in 2017.
The change, dubbed 'The Martian Rule,' specified that "dramas with comedic overtones should be entered as dramas." This prevented future strategic category placements that might disadvantage genuine comedies.
Comedy remains subjective. Mark Watney's year-and-a-half survival on Mars included plenty of humor, even if he despised Commander Lewis's disco music collection.