The Golden Globes became one of the most talked-about award shows of the 2018 season long before the red carpet was officially rolled out, thanks to the 300 founding members of Time’s Up. The movement is a Hollywood-based initiative that hopes to address issues of systemic gender inequity and sexual harassment across industries through legal aid and other resources, as well as their first public manifestation — a fashion blackout at the first big award ceremony of the year. The call to action was simple (and wasn’t limited to women, or even to those who received an invitation the Globes): Wear black on Sunday to stand in solidarity with survivors of sexual abuse. Time’s Up also created a pin for folks to wear throughout awards season to show support for the cause. The response to the dress code has been divided, with some characterising it as an “empty gesture” and others questioning whether simply colour-coordinating is enough of a stand — all criticisms that members of Time’s Up recognise, but also don’t feel deterred by. Many actresses who plan on wearing black to tonight’s ceremony have shared deeply personal reasons for wanting to participate, and have expressed a desire and determination to do more after. To them, the blackout isn’t the end-all-be-all — it’s the tone-setter for an awards season that will be unlike any we’ve seen, and hopefully one that continues some tough conversations, on and off the red carpet. Ahead, eleven women tell GLAMOUR what wearing black to the Golden Globes means to them.
Diane Kruger
“It means a lot to me to be part of the sisterhood that I feel has truly emerged out of this terrible time, and I feel proud to be part of this community. [Wearing black] is a symbol — there’s not more behind it than that — but I think it’s an important and powerful statement to see us all united, and just say enough is enough, and we’re together in this. I read this interesting article on Deadline where people feel like there is going to be retaliation against these women — not right now but once things settle — and that kind of scared me because I saw some truth in that. It felt like that was right, so we have to be careful about that [so that doesn’t happen].” — at the 2018 BAFTA Tea Party in Los Angeles
Issa Rae
“When I heard that [Time’s Up] was going to be the cause, I was like, ‘Are we doing anything, though?’ Because I just don’t want to wear black and [have] everything stay the same. That’s why I was so excited when I talked to Rashida Jones and others… It’s so exciting to have an action plan — like the Legal Defense Fund — so that it’s not just a Hollywood problem. It’s about representing women in corporate environments and women that can’t afford to complain, and, even within the system, demanding equal pay for women and making sure that there’s funding behind being able to do that, and I love being able to say that that’s what we’re doing. I think for me it’s about making sure the conversation continues and that there’s follow through on action points — I don’t know that wearing black every single time will make a difference, but I know it’s absolutely necessary for us not to forget about this conversation and to not forget about other people who are affected by toxic patriarchy.” — at the 2018 BAFTA Tea Party in Los Angeles
Allison Janey
“[When I first learned of the blackout] I was like, ‘Is somebody going to tell me about this?’ Then it slowly started filtering down through emails and people knowing people, so I think everyone’s been told about this and what we’re doing, and [they] just have to figure out why they’re wearing black and what parts of this movement resonate with them. Mostly I’m happy that we’re addressing sexual harassment and abuse of power — those things have been around since the beginning of time, and I never thought we would address them in this way in my lifetime. I think Time’s Up is such a great call to action, and [it’s] establishing things that are going to help people who don’t have access to legal funds and provide guidance and help, so those people don’t have to feel that they don’t have a voice. There’s still a long way to go, and part of me feels that sexual harassment and abuse will never go away, but now it won’t be tolerated and there will be repercussions and people will be held accountable for their behaviour, so maybe it won’t happen as much. But I don’t think it will disappear just all of the sudden tomorrow as we all wear black!” — at the 2018 BAFTA Tea Party in Los Angeles
Rachel Brosnahan
“For me, it’s about standing in solidarity and sisterhood — not only with these leaders in our industry who started this action, but with women everywhere to say time’s up, enough is enough, on sexual harassment and assault and abuse of power. I’m grateful to the women who began this conversation and I hope to continue it and pass it along [at the Golden Globes]. It really feels like a sisterhood and it’s inclusive, and it makes the whole thing less nerve-wracking actually because it stands for something.” — at the 2018 BAFTA Tea Party in Los Angeles
Susan Kelechi Watson
“I felt like it was going to be a lot of us standing in solidarity against abuse, against harassment. It felt like a way to support those who have been courageous enough to speak out. And honestly, in some sort of weird way, it made me feel more free: I felt this freedom to be bold and stand out and have my own take on things and represent my inner attitude.” — at the 2018 Golden Globes red carpet
Alison Brie
“It’s really moving [to see everyone dressed in black], and it just reminded me about strength in numbers and what a powerful thing it is when we all come together. And I’ve been feeling that working on GLOW — just the power of a group of women working together, lifting each other up, to be here with all these incredibly amazing women, who are supporting this cause; men, who are supporting it as well. It’s very exciting.” — at the 2018 Golden Globes red carpet
Caitriona Balfe
” I think so often in this industry, it can be a little bit of ‘all about us’ and a ‘look at me’ situation, it’s so nice to be a part of something where it felt like there was a community gathering together for a very important issue. Time’s Up is such a powerful movement and the fact that it’s putting an action in place with the legal defense fund is so wonderful. This is going to help so many women who don’t have power, who don’t have a voice, not just our industry — it’s industries across the board. It’s really exciting that we’re in this moment of change and reckoning. It’s going to be a struggle, and it’s going to be painful, but I think that it’s going to be very positive in the long run.” — at the 2018 Golden Globes red carpet
Gwendoline Christie
“I wanted to wear this dress because I thought it looked like the rosettes from Suffragettes. I loved all of its handmade elements, and that it’s entirely unique and unconventional — it’s not a symmetrical dress, and doesn’t subscribe to conventional design and aesthetics in terms of structure. And it was created by people that I know and love, a brilliant team of mostly women. It’s personal. It was made to fit my body. It’s craftsmanship, it’s independent, it’s in Britain — it’s all about being unique and an independent venture, and that’s what I believe in supporting. I think [the 2018 Golden Globes are] a fun evening because it’s a significant evening: People are really taking the opportunity to express something important and get behind it. We’re all wearing black to stand in solidarity with victims of abuse, violence, harassment, and prejudice in the workplace. I do hope this signals a greater move towards equality between the genders, because I believe this is a global issue.” — at the 2018 Golden Globes red carpet
Katherine Langford
“This is my first Golden Globes, and it still feels like a celebration, but it feels like it has a lot more purpose. For myself, I feel really proud to be here and to be a part of the Time’s Up movement. I’m wearing custom Prada. Not only were they so supportive and innovative with this theme [of solidarity], the dress in itself is very effortless but also young and elegant. That’s something I really love in my style.” — at the 2018 Golden Globes red carpet
Megan Mullally
“I was in on the ground floor of the Time’s Up movement, so I feel very honoured to be a part of that. [The blackout] just means that we’re sending a signal out to all the women in the whole world to say that we stand with you in solidarity if you have, are, or will be sexually harassed or abused — we are there, we see you, we are with you. That’s the signal we’re sending out. That’s all there is. I hope to see [the Time’s Up pin] for the next many seasons to come.” — at the 2018 BAFTA Tea Party in Los Angeles
Tessa Thompson
“Black is connected to some of the other widespread organisation that’s happening by way of the legal defense fund, so there will be women and hopefully men on the carpet talking about that — about the incredible amount of money being raised, about our galvanising people at home to give in all amounts — to amplify that and try to continue fundraising through the Globes, so that’s certainly one thing and that’s now out in the press. Then, [there will be] women gathering in both Los Angeles and New York, and it’s really continuing to practice real community in this spirit of change.” — on the phone with GLAMOUR in January 2018
Taken from GLAMOUR US. Click here to read the original.
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