For many, the ribbon of black frocks moving through the Golden Globe Awards last night was exhilarating. The ‘time is up’ speeches from actresses such as Nicole Kidman, Elizabeth Moss, Reese Witherspoon and Oprah Winfrey were met with appreciation and a feeling in your stomach that something’s changing.
For others, the night was shrouded with hypocrisy. And, the fact the majority of guests were dressed in black to protest the endless allegations of sexual assault and coverups being levelled at Hollywood heavyweights, it seemed to embody that old adage: Too little, too late.
One of these people is 44-year-old actress Rose McGowan, who’s been a vocal leader of the #MeToo movement and was one of the first actresses, alongside Ashley Judd, to publicly accuse now-disgraced film director Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault in October last year.
She has also controversially accused veteran actress Meryl Streep, who has worked closely with Weinstein, of staying silent through the decades of his sexual misconduct. And, when the ‘Wear it Black’ protest was first suggested in early December, McGowan was quick to voice her dissent: the symbolism will change nothing, she suggested, and will provide a convenient excuse to continue changing nothing.
Now, with the 2018 Golden Globes out of the way, McGowan has again voiced her disgust.
“And not one of those fancy people wearing black to honor our rapes would have lifted a finger had it not been so,” she posted to Twitter yesterday evening. “I have no time for Hollywood fakery.”
This came in response to a tweet from activist Asia Argento, which read: “No one should forget that you were the first one who broke the silence. Anyone who tries to diminish your work is a troll and an enemy of the movement. You gave me the courage to speak out. I am on your side until I die.”
LISTEN: We look back on the year that was #MeToo with the woman who started it all, Tracey Spicer. Post continues after.
McGowan wasn’t done and ended the night with a simple: “Alright, Oprah.”
Actress Amber Tamblyn responded to McGowan, tweeting that “while she supports the movement”, she “does not support any woman (or man) shaming or taunting the movements of other women who are trying to create change.”
What do you think? Tell us in the comments below.
Top Comments
I believe rose was a victim and get why she is angry but if she is tearing down Meryl Streep for staying silent then why is it ok that she also took many years to come out with her story? And in reality considering the climate in Hollywood at the time had Meryl come out would the victims have had the courage to step forward also?
It's ok to say you think tokenism is a waste of time. It is really. But lashing out at every actress who tries to use their voice to.support the #metoo campaign will not help.overall. she needs these voices, all the victims need these voices and it is these voices who are helping to keep it in the spotlight. What needs to happen now is that those making accusation must follow through with something more substantial than a mere Twitter post and seek legal help for their claims to.bring these predators to justice. They need to ensure that when they come forward that they do not do so only when it will give them benefit for their own career and if they habe information then say it to the right authority
I think she is trying to make the point that most women now wearing black & paying lip service to #metoo, have actually benefited from the access to the powerful via sex dynamic that has formed the foundation of Hollywood since it's beginning. Hence none of those pretty women who, as they have aged & landed on their feet like Streep or those still youthful with careers in front of them, who can still benefit from that dynamic, have any real interest in collapsing a structure that can uniquely build so much wealth for a pretty women. Moreover this raises the question that if an entire industy built on a dynamic of rich powerful men & pretty women exchanging sex for movie roles & acting careers; would we have seen any of the abuse that many of these older starlets now report upon in the first place.