Shonda Rhimes Reveals That the HFPA Rejected a 'Bridgerton' Press Conference

From Harper's BAZAAR

After a contentious awards ceremony, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organizing body behind the Golden Globes, is coming under fire yet again.

The Wrap reported that the HFPA denied requests for press conferences for three major projects with Black-led casts in recent years: Bridgerton, Girls Trip, and Queen & Slim.

Shonda Rhimes, the creator and producer of the hit Netflix period drama, confirmed that the HFPA rejected a Bridgerton press conference ahead of the 78th annual Golden Globes show.

"HFPA rejected our press conference. Until it was a 'surprise hit' (Grey's, Scandal, Murder -SURPRISE!)," she tweeted on Tuesday, responding to The Wrap's report. "And yet they STILL asked me to show up in person to present at the Globes. We're not the only ones. This is why HFPA's house is on fire. They lit the flame w/their own ignorance."

In a subsequent tweet, Rhimes added, "And I'm the lucky one. More important: think of all the great talent and shows out there that never even got a chance."

After its Netflix debut last Christmas, Bridgerton, which is adapted from a series of historical romance novels by the same name, smashed the streaming giant's viewership records.

Netflix revealed that about 82 million households around the world streamed the first season of Bridgerton within its first 28 days, according to The Hollywood Reporter, becoming the most-watched original Netflix series ever. That number is also 19 million households higher than Netflix's four-week projection for the show and is also the platform's fifth-biggest launch ever, per Deadline. Since, the show has been renewed for a second season.

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