‘Encanto’ & ‘West Side Story’ Win Big at Golden Globes 2022

If you feel like you missed the 2022 Golden Globes this year, you didn’t. The awards show didn’t air on TV, instead the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) announced the winners on Twitter Sunday night, with no media in attendance or a red carpet. Despite the lack of an actual awards ceremony, there is a lot to celebrate with Latinas and Latinx-led films winning in major categories. The beloved Disney film, Encanto, won best animated film and West Side Story won best musical/comedy. The film’s star Rachel Zegler was named best actress in a musical/comedy, and Ariana DeBose took home the supporting actress prize for her take on Anita, made famous by fellow Puerto Rican actress Rita Moreno. DeBose tweeted a response to the win: “There is still work to be done, but when you’ve worked so hard on a project- infused with blood, sweat, tears and love- having the work seen and acknowledged is always going to be special.”

https://twitter.com/ArianaDeBose/status/1480404869525684232

The “work” she might be referring to is a response to the controversy that, along with Covid, reportedly was the reason for the award show not airing a ceremony this year. A Los Angeles Times investigation, published in February, revealed that the HFPA, with fewer than 90 members, did not have one Black journalist among its members. The lack of diversity among the voting group led many in Hollywood to threaten to boycott the ceremony. In response, they added 21 new members including six Black journalists shows they’re taking a step in the right direction though the effects of this change, among others, remains to be seen. But this year does mark a historic win for the LGBTQIA+ community with MJ Rodriguez becoming the first openly transgender woman to win a Golden Globe. The 31-year-old actress, who is of Puerto Rican descent, won for best actress in a TV drama for her leading role as Blanca Evangelista in Pose, which ended in 2021 after three seasons.

The actress took to Instagram to share her surprise and joy, writing in a post: “OMG OMGGG!!!! @goldenglobes Wow! You talking about sickening birthday present! Thank you! This is the door that is going to Open the door for many more young talented individuals. They will see that it is more than possible. They will see that a young Black Latina girl from Newark New Jersey who had a dream, to change the minds others would WITH LOVE. LOVE WINS. To my young LGBTQIA+ babies WE ARE HERE the door is now open now reach the stars!!!!!”.

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We love that these films and actresses were recognized for their work and hope that the changes the HFPA implemented result in the recognition of historically underrepresented BIPOC creators in Hollywood. Zelger shared these sentiments on Instagram while recognizing the significance of WSS:

“Our industry has and continues to have so many important discussions about how to properly represent its audience, and i truly believe our movie did just that. i think i can speak for each incredible person involved with ‘west side story’ when saying we appreciate the support and recognition we’ve received. and here’s to the hope that we continue to talk to each other for meaningful change in a world that is constantly evolving.”