Following the nationwide deluge of conversation surrounding sexual misconduct in the workplace and beyond, sparked by Ronan Farrow’s exposé of of Hollywood executive Harvey Weinstein‘s history of sexual harassment and assault, a group of powerful women in Hollywood have joined to unveil Time’s Up, an initiative against systemic harassment in the workplace. Celebrities including actresses Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington and Ashley Judd teamed up to write an open letter, signed by hundreds of other women in entertainment, pledging their support to female employees, particularly those in working class positions, across all industries.
So far, Time’s Up (which has been in the works since October 2017) has raised $13 million in donations for a legal fund to help underrepresented and less privileged women—such as those in the service industry—protect themselves from harassment as well as the backlash that often results from reporting it. The initiative also aims to instate legislation that will penalize employers who turn a blind eye to harassment, reach gender parity (as well as greater LGBTQ and minority representation) at studios and talent agencies, and show solidarity with survivors of sexual assault by requesting that women attending the Golden Globes dress in black.
Rose McGowan, one of the most outspoken celebrities leading the movement against predators like Harvey Weinstein, criticized Time’s Up proposed plan for an all-black dress code at the Golden Globes.
“Actresses, like Meryl Streep, who happily worked for The Pig Monster, are wearing black @GoldenGlobes in a silent protest,” she wrote in a Tweet which has since been deleted. “YOUR SILENCE is THE problem. You’ll accept a fake award breathlessly & affect no real change. I despise your hypocrisy. Maybe you should all wear Marchesa,” she continued, referencing the fashion label run by Weinstein’s now-estranged wife Georgina Chapman.
McGowan previously criticized Streep, who worked with Weinstein on films including “The Iron Lady” and “August: Osage County,” for claiming ignorance of Weinstein’s behavior after the allegations against him first began to surface.
Now, McGowan will continue her advocacy with documentary series “Citizen Rose,” a two-hour special set to air January 30, 2018 on E! with four more episodes to come this spring. The show will follow McGowan as she prepares to release “Brave,” an upcoming memoir chronicling her rise as an activist.
