The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is in hot water over claims that the organization denied membership to an applicant on the basis of race.

Samantha Ofole-Prince applied to join the HFPA but was denied by the board's 84 members. A prominent black U.K. journalist, Ofole-Prince only received 33 votes in her favor, according to an anonymous member of the HFPA.

The member told a reporter at TheWrap that many who voted against her "insinuated, Jim Crow-style, that she was unqualified based on no evidence whatsoever (in fact, directly contradicted by actual evidence of her experience and qualifications). And they carried the vote."

The member also stated that the opposing members "conducted a fevered, if incoherent, email and personal lobbying campaign to keep Ofole-Prince out."

TheWrap reached out to one of the opposing members, Judy Solomon, who stated that claims of racism were "insulting." She said that Olofe-Prince did not submit the required four clippings, adding, "Why I voted against her is she because she didn't follow the bylaws."

An HFPA spokesman stated that he didn't know why Olofe-Prince was rejected, but that "any allegation regarding the organization and claiming any race issues is outrageous."

Olofe-Prince is the Entertainment Editor for the news publication CaribPress, and writes for "several entertainment publications" according to her Twitter profile.

The organization does not have a single black member, mostly skewing older and European.

The HFPA did accept one new member, Danish journalist Tina Johnk Christensen.

The 84-member group who accept or reject new applicants also vote in the organization's Golden Globes, held every January. They honor the best in film and television.

The Golden Globes are often regarded as a precursor to the Academy Awards despite being a relatively private organization.

As of Friday afternoon, it is unknown whether or not there will be an investigation into the racism charges.

Tags
Golden globes, Racism