Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You Golden Globe snub sparks accusations of racism

The Golden Globe’s failure to acknowledge TV drama I May Destroy You has sparked accusations of racism in the industry.

The 12-part series is written and directed by – and stars Michaela Coel – and fictionalises the story of her own sexual assault, while exploring themes of trauma, race, and friendships.

It was unanimously lauded by critics across the world, featuring heavily on the lists for the best of 2020.

Yet I May Destroy You didn’t appear to have impressed the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, and was infuriatingly snubbed from this year’s Golden Globes nominations.

The move sparked fresh accusations of racism among award ceremonies with every year seeing acclaimed TV and film directed or centred people of colour ignored.

It wasn’t just I May Destroy You that was disregarded, Black-led movies like Judas and the Black Messiah and Da 5 Bloods were too overlooked.

Previous years has seen the like of Jordan Peele’s Us, Netflix series When They See Us, and HBO’s Watchmen ignored, despite worldwide acclaim.

Deborah Copaken – writer of Netflix’s Emily in Paris, which is up for two Golden Globe awards – expressed her ‘fury’ at the absence of I May Destroy You in the nominations.

Writing in The Guardian, she said: “How anyone can watch I May Destroy You and not call it a brilliant work of art or Michaela Coel a genius is beyond my capacity to understand how these decisions are made.”

Five-time Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais - known for his uncomfortable honest open speeches - touched upon the rampant racism problem in TV and film during his speech at last year’s event.

He said: “Many talented people of colour were snubbed in major categories. Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about that. Hollywood Foreign Press are all very racist.”

And it seems nothing has changed.