A tumultuous court hearing Tuesday saw former Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) member Husam "Sam" Asi narrowly avoid being held in contempt, as he urged a judge to consider a new federal lawsuit that he claims invalidates the HFPA's ongoing case against him.
Asi, represented by a public defender, argued that a lawsuit filed last month in federal court by former HFPA members against new Globes owner Jay Penske and former Golden Globe Foundation CEO Gregory Goeckner contains admissions that support his long-standing claims against the organization. The HFPA's case against Asi has been in court for four years, but Asi's grievances date back further.
In March 2021, the Israeli-born Palestinian journalist publicly accused the HFPA of racism. Less than a year later, reports emerged alleging he had sexually harassed three members. In response, Asi sued the HFPA three months later, alleging retaliation. He claimed he was subjected to sexual harassment and derogatory remarks, and that false misconduct allegations were "weaponized" against him for speaking out about the group's diversity issues. Asi was subsequently ordered to cover the HFPA's legal fees after a series of legal losses.
Since then, Penske and Eldridge Industries CEO Todd Boehly acquired the Golden Globes, transforming the HFPA into a for-profit entity and dissolving the original organization, though some members joined the new iteration.
"The HFPA, in its new lawsuit, admitted everything I alleged," Asi stated in court, referring to the Penske suit. "Every discovery they filed [in my case], every response was based on perjury."
Adding another layer of complexity, Goeckner, who provided key testimony in Asi's case, was recently fired from his positions within the Golden Globe Foundation. Asi highlighted Goeckner's termination and his being sued by the HFPA itself as reasons to question his previous testimony and the validity of the HFPA's case.
Judge Daniel Crowley expressed confusion over the unfolding events. While Asi readily agreed to go to trial, attorneys for the HFPA indicated a desire to file for summary judgment to avoid what they termed a "circus."
Asi countered that the HFPA had threatened summary judgment for three years without filing, suggesting they lacked grounds to do so and were instead hoping the court would rule against him. The HFPA's lawsuit against Penske, Asi argued, undermined their own case against him.
Judge Crowley postponed a ruling on Asi's alleged contempt for failing to satisfy a seven-figure judgment against him. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for November 18. Sources familiar with the protracted legal battle describe the situation as "almost comic chaos" and an "Alice in Wonderland world of competing claims of duplicity, subterfuge and chicanery."