Golden Globes host and comedian Jerrod Carmichael addressed the elephant in the room head-on and immediately.
After telling everyone to quieten down, Carmichael welcomed the audience to the 80th annual Golden Globe awards.
"I am your host, Jerrod Carmichael," he said.
"And I'll tell you why I'm here.
"I'm here because I'm black."
Carmichael then promised to catch everyone in the room up on what's been going on with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA).
The HFPA has faced controversy after a Los Angeles Times exposé that questioned its legitimacy and ethics and the qualifications of its members.
Members were found to be exchanging votes for perks. And it was also found that none of the HFPA's voting members were black.
"This show the Golden Globe Awards did not air last year because the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which I won't say they were a racist organisation, but they didn't have a single black member until George Floyd died," Carmichael said.
"So do with that information what you will."
There was some nervous laughter, with the audience unsure whether or not that was the appropriate reaction to Carmichael's monologue.
Carmichael then went on to explain how he "got here".
He said he received a call from this year's producer of the Golden Globes, Stephen Hill.
"You know? One minute you're making mint tea at home," he said.
"The next you're invited to be the black face of an embattled white organisation."
He told Hill he was torn.
"It's a great opportunity. Thank you for the call, but I'm only being asked to host this, I know, because I'm black."
Hill listed a number of other reasons Carmichael was being asked to host including that he's talented, charming, and "you are one of the greatest comedians of a generation".
"But Stephen's black, so what would he know? Then I've gotta tell him why he's here."
He said he did what he does when he has a moral racial dilemma — he called his friend, Avery, "who for the sake of this monologue represents every black person in America".
Avery asked him how much he'd be earning.
"And I said $500,000. And she said, 'Boy, if you don't put on a good suit and take them white people's money …"
Carmichael joked that this reaction wouldn't be uncommon.
"I bet black informants for the FBI in the 60s, like their families, were still proud of them. They were like: 'You hear about Clarence's new job? They're paying him $8,000 to snitch on Dr King. It's a good government job'."
Carmichael was then told the president of the HFPA, Helen Hoehne, wanted to have a one-on-one sit-down with him, which he initially rejected.
"I know a trap when I hear a trap," he told the audience.
He thought that was the end of the matter, until he was told the HFPA was insisting he take the meeting.
"And I'm like, or what? They're gonna fire me? They haven't had a black host in 79 years. They're gonna fire the first one? I'm un-fireable."
He was approached a third time. The HFPA wanted to explain how it had changed.
According to the HFPA, around 200 journalists and international film industry insiders voted in the 2023 Golden Globes, including 10 per cent who are black and 52 per cent who are racially and ethnically diverse.
"I took this job assuming they hadn't changed at all," he said to laughter.
Carmichael went on to say he was there because of the people in the room.
"I look out into this room and I see a lot of talented people," he continued.
"People that I admire … people that I would like to be like, people that I'm jealous of and people that are actually really incredible artists.
"And, regardless of whatever the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's past may be, this is an evening when we get to celebrate.
"And I think this industry deserves evenings like these. And I'm happy you all are here."
Carmichael later caused a stir when he carried three trophies on stage, saying they belonged to Tom Cruise who famously returned his Golden Globe awards in the midst of the HFPA controversy.
Carmichael suggested the trophies be traded for Shelly Miscavige, wife of David Miscavige, the leader of the Church of Scientology.
Shelly Miscavige hasn't been seen in public for more than 15 years.
Cruise is well known as a Scientologist.
