Time‘s up for the entertainment industry’s sexual predators.
How and why?
Details on the monumental moves being made by Shonda Rhimes and her peers to slice abuse out of the industry below…
Keen to blast toxic casting couch culture and sexual abuse out of the game, Rhimes has teamed up with Reese Witherspoon, Natalie Portman, Rashida Jones, Kerry Washington, Lena Waithe, America Ferrera, Eva Longoria, Ashley Judd, Donna Langely and Katie McGrath, Melina Matsoukus, Jill Soloway; lawyers Nina Shaw, Tina Tchen, Anita Hill and more to form ‘Time’s Up.’
What it is?
Shimes broke it down…
Earning a living should not come at the cost of anyone’s safety, dignity or morale. Every person should get to work in an environment free from abuse, assault and discrimination. It’s well past time to change the culture of the environment where most of us spend the majority of our day — the work place. 51% of our population is female, over 30% of our population is of color. Those are important, vital, economically powerfully voices that need to be heard at every level. Time’s Up is working to make sure the people walking the corridors of power within the workplace and in politics truly reflect the full mix of America – the real America that looks like and includes all of us. Look, this isn’t going to be easy but it is right. And fighting for what is right can seem hard. But letting what is wrong become normal is not easier — it is just more shameful.
The organisation was formed as the industry braces itself for the outing of more sexual predators after evil deeds allegedly carried out by Harvey Weinstein, Russell Simmons, Bill Cosby and Bryan Singer were exposed by their alleged victims.
The Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund, spearheaded by Tina Tchen and Roberta Kaplan and including some top PR professionals, will help individuals who experience sexual misconduct, including assault, abuse or harassment, find legal representation. The Legal Defense Fund will be housed at and administered by the National Women’s Law Center and participating attorneys will work with the Center’s Legal Network for Gender Equity to enable more individuals to come forward and secure legal assistance.
Tina Tchen, attorney and co-founder of Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund explains…
The magnitude of the past few months highlights the fact that sexual harassment against women in the workplace is endemic and touches every industry. We are a community of women and men who can no longer stand idly by. This is the first of many concrete actions we will take. And we are thrilled to partner with Fatima Goss Graves and the National Women’s Law Center to assure the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund’s success.