Hollywood Foreign Press Association Sues Penske Over Alleged Monopoly

The complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California outlines a multi-year effort to devalue the HFPA, beginning with an orchestrated boycott in 2021. According to the suit, Penske and associate Todd Boehly exploited their control over major trade outlets to force the organization into a vulnerable position. Boehly allegedly infiltrated the HFPA as interim CEO while simultaneously positioning his firm, Eldridge Industries, as the buyer for the Golden Globes.

Beyond the acquisition, the lawsuit details a vertical and horizontal monopoly that links Penske’s award shows—including the Billboard Music Awards and the American Music Awards—with his massive portfolio of publications like Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Deadline. The HFPA argues this structure allows Penske to promote his own contenders for his own awards, bolstered by his data company, Luminate, and predictive platform, Gold Derby.

The plaintiffs further accuse former HFPA General Counsel Gregory Goeckner of conspiring to siphon approximately $4 million from the association into the Golden Globe Foundation to hasten the organization's collapse. With 20 causes of action ranging from fraud to antitrust violations, the HFPA is seeking over $150 million in damages. Daniel A. Saunders, a partner at Kasowitz LLP, stated that the defendants' actions have caused profound harm to the integrity of the entertainment awards market and the livelihoods of independent journalists.