The Lens: Michelle Yeoh’s Golden Globes win for ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ highlights the need for diversity

Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, who recently won the Golden Globe for best actress for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once, recalled what it was like to be called a “minority” and asked if she could speak English early in her career.

Forty years later, “it’s been an amazing journey and incredible fight to be here today, but I think it’s been worth it,” she said.

Yeoh said it was vital to celebrate all the talented people in media.

“It’s important because this is an international Golden Globe, right? It encompasses everybody. That’s something we constantly talk about: inclusivity,” Yeoh said. “How can you not include them?”

After years of criticism for its lack of diversity, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), a group of journalists and photographers who report on the American entertainment industry, held the Golden Globes ceremony last week.

The show’s host, comedian Jerrod Carmichael, opened his monologue with a blunt assessment of why he had been chosen as the Awards’ first Black host.

“Hello. Welcome to the 80th annual Golden Globe Awards. I am your host, Jerrod Carmichael. And I’ll tell you why I’m here. I’m here ‘cause I’m Black,” he began.

Hollywood boycotted the once prestigious awards show last year following a report about the lack of diversity in HFPA, whose members choose the winners at the Globes.

In 2021, an investigation from the Los Angeles Times revealed the association had no Black journalists in its ranks. Some HFPA members were also accused of making sexist and racist remarks and soliciting favours from celebrities and movie studios.

The HFPA introduced new ethics policies and diversified its voting membership following the release of the revealing report. Among its roughly 200 current members, nearly 52 per cent are racially and ethnically diverse, including 10 per cent who are Black.

Reuters and Yanni Chow

• Why is diversity important in the entertainment industry?

• What can the industry do to promote and encourage diversity? Explain using the news snippet and your own knowledge.

Chloe Kwok, Heep Yunn School

To understand why Chinese social media sites are flooded with numerous complaints about the unfair treatment Chinese citizens experience when travelling abroad, we must first understand what these travel restrictions mean to China.

Chinese citizens have yearned for an escape from the country’s strict pandemic restrictions and an opportunity to reunite with their loved ones during Lunar New Year. They have endured nearly three years of Beijing’s zero-Covid policy and are looking for an outlet to escape the endless lockdowns and depressing news.

Chinese travellers believe that travel restrictions, such as pre-flight PCR tests or a limit on the number of short-term visas being issued, are a political attack on China and are disappointed by what they perceive as unfair treatment. On the other hand, countries such as South Korea are struggling with a dilemma: should they allow more travellers even though lifting restrictions could lead to a rise in Covid-19 infections, hurt their healthcare systems and create a strong sense of discontent among their people?

It’s true these travel restrictions can be inconvenient for Chinese visitors. But they are also South Korea’s way of preventing a surge in Covid-19 cases. We should remember that China’s sudden reversal of its zero-Covid policy is why its reopening concerns many countries. To alleviate the tension between China and its neighbours, China needs to show it is still commited to fighting the pandemic.