LOS ANGELES, July 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kasowitz LLP filed a federal lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (“HFPA”) against Jay Penske, Penske Media Corporation, the Golden Globe Foundation, and Gregory Goeckner arising out of the defendants’ alleged orchestration of a corrupt scheme to fraudulently acquire the Golden Globe Awards, dismantle the 80-year-old organization that created them, and establish monopolistic control over Hollywood trade publications, entertainment awards, and For Your Consideration (“FYC”) advertising markets.
As alleged in the complaint, beginning in or around 2021, Penske and billionaire associate Todd Boehly used the major Hollywood trade publications that they control to instigate a boycott of the HFPA with the goal of devaluing the organization and rendering it vulnerable to acquisition. Boehly then infiltrated the HFPA as interim CEO while simultaneously serving as the buyer seeking to purchase the Golden Globes through his company Eldridge Industries LLC. Shortly after the deal’s signing, Penske emerged and assumed complete control of the Golden Globes.
As further alleged in the complaint, Penske’s acquisition of the Golden Globes is a central component of a broad anticompetitive trust wherein he owns and/or controls at least half a dozen major awards shows (including the Golden Globes, the Billboard Music Awards, the American Music Awards, the Streamy Awards, the Latin American Music Awards, and the Academy of Country Music Awards), almost all of the major Hollywood trade publications that sell the advertising packages for award contestants (including The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Deadline, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Vibe, and IndieWire), the company that controls the market for predicting winners for those awards shows (Gold Derby Media), the data company that measures statistics for award eligibility (Luminate), and even film and television production companies that compete for those awards (including A24 and Media Rights Capital). By acquiring the Golden Globes, Penske and Boehly not only solidified a vertical and horizontal monopoly on the awards market, but also effectively positioned themselves to control and exclude members of the domestic and foreign press, and ultimately control the entertainment news disseminated to the general public, while maintaining a monopoly over streams of advertising revenue in that market. In short, through this alleged anticompetitive trust, Penske-owned trade publications promote Penske-owned contenders for Penske-owned awards predicted by a Penske-owned website.
Penske has also allegedly used his monopolization to turn the Golden Globes into a pay-to-play racket, requiring expensive FYC advertising purchases from his own trade publications as a prerequisite for awards consideration while excluding HFPA members and chilling competition by retaliating against journalists who dare to speak out against the anticompetitive conduct.
The lawsuit also alleges that defendant Gregory Goeckner—the HFPA’s former General Counsel who became CEO of the Golden Globe Foundation, the successor to the HFPA’s charitable arm—conspired with Penske and Boehly to fraudulently induce the transfer of approximately $4 million from the HFPA to the Foundation in an effort to starve the HFPA of funds and force the organization to dissolve before the defendants’ conduct could be brought to light.
The complaint alleges 20 causes of action including violations of federal and state antitrust laws, unfair trade practices, unfair competition, unjust enrichment, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and legal malpractice. The HFPA seeks damages exceeding $150 million, treble damages, rescission of allegedly unlawful agreements, injunctive relief prohibiting the defendants from continuing their anticompetitive practices, and disgorgement of ill-gotten gains.
Kasowitz partner Daniel A. Saunders, counsel to the HFPA, stated, “The defendants’ alleged anticompetitive conduct and brazen attempts to destroy the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, all to consolidate even greater monopolistic control in Hollywood and freeze out competing foreign journalists, has caused great harm to the 83-year-old organization and to the integrity of the awards market and related markets in the entertainment industry. We look forward to proving the defendants’ liability in court, obtaining treble damages for the HFPA, and securing injunctive relief to prohibit the defendants from causing further harm to consumers and competitors.”
The Kasowitz team representing the HFPA includes partners Daniel A. Saunders and Robert W. Bosslet and associates Dwayne A. Amos and Kristine B. Abrenica.
About Kasowitz LLP
Kasowitz LLP is a leading national law firm with a core focus on commercial litigation, complemented by exceptionally strong bankruptcy/restructuring and real estate transactional practices. Kasowitz is known for its creative, aggressive litigators and willingness to take on tough cases. The firm has extensive trial experience and is always trial-ready, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in every area of litigation. Kasowitz is committed to pursuing aggressive and innovative approaches to its clients’ most challenging legal matters. Headquartered in New York City, the firm also has offices in Atlanta, Boulder, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.kasowitz.com
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