Sixteen members of the 62 panel for the The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) voted againts Ricky Gervais returning to take his third turn as Golden Globes host in January.
The HFPA announced through Twitter on Wednesday that Gervais will take his third turn as Globes host in January.
His to close-to-the-knuckle jokes last year - including digs at Charlie Sheen's drinking habits and a swipe at Angeline Jolie and Jonny Depp for their part in The Tourist - left many doubting he would be invited back.
But it has been revelaed in America the vote was not unanimous - and that 25% of the members voted against Gervais. Sources with knowledge of the meeting told the Los Angeles Times that majority of the dissenters were older members. "My worry was that he was insulting, and when I invite someone to my house, they don't insult me," said longtime HFPA member Judy Solomon. "But this is show business. I guess I'm old-fashioned."
The organisation acknowledged on its website that "not everyone is happy with the decision" to bring Gervais back because "his blunt one-liners targeting big-name celebrities caused anger and resentment in some quarters."
At the ceremony earlier this year, Gervais joked that the HFPA accepts bribes (just after the group was sued for allegations that it engaged in payola schemes) and swiped at stars such as Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis and Robert Downey Jr.
"Aside from the fact that it's been hugely mean-spirited, with mildly sinister undertones, I'd say the vibe of the show is pretty good so far, wouldn't you?" Downey said when he took the stage to present an award.
The HFPA said after the show that Gervais "pushed the envelope and occasionally went too far."
Still, Gervais' jabs paid off in ratings, drawing nearly 17 million viewers to the NBC broadcast and beating out its network competition in that time slot.
The 50-year-old comedian initially said after the show that he would not return as its host. Earlier this year, Philip Berk, then president of the HFPA, denied that Gervais had been invited to come back.
But the organization said Gervais "gradually warmed to the idea" and recently discussed his return with the HFPA's new president, Dr. Aida Takla-O'Reilly.
The 69th annual Golden Globe Awards will be held January 15 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
taken from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8896118/Backlash-against-return-for-Ricky-Gervais-and-his-insults.html
"Aside from the fact that it's been hugely mean-spirited, with mildly sinister undertones, I'd say the vibe of the show is pretty good so far, wouldn't you?" Downey said when he took the stage to present an award.
The HFPA said after the show that Gervais "pushed the envelope and occasionally went too far."
Still, Gervais' jabs paid off in ratings, drawing nearly 17 million viewers to the NBC broadcast and beating out its network competition in that time slot.
The 50-year-old comedian initially said after the show that he would not return as its host. Earlier this year, Philip Berk, then president of the HFPA, denied that Gervais had been invited to come back.
But the organization said Gervais "gradually warmed to the idea" and recently discussed his return with the HFPA's new president, Dr. Aida Takla-O'Reilly.
The 69th annual Golden Globe Awards will be held January 15 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
taken from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8896118/Backlash-against-return-for-Ricky-Gervais-and-his-insults.html
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