What does it mean, who's a part of it and what does it have to do with the Golden Globes?
After the slew of sexual misconduct scandals that plagued the last half of 2017, women in Hollywood decided to say, "Time's Up."
Three hundred prominent women in the entertainment industry signed a full-page letter in The New York Times on New Year's Day, expressing solidarity for their working-class counterparts who have experienced sexual misconduct, vowing to combat sexual harassment in all working environments, in and outside of Hollywood.
But what exactly does it mean, who's a part of it and what does it have to do with the red carpet fashions at the Golden Globes? Read on below to find out.
What Is It?
Inspired in part by the #MeToo movement, Time's Up's goal is to expand the conversation beyond accusations of sexual harassment to include advocacy for those affected by it. According to its website, the Time's Up movement is a “unified call for change from women in entertainment for women everywhere. From movie sets to farm fields to boardrooms alike, we envision nationwide leadership that reflects the world in which we live."
The initiative isn't piloted by a leader, but is instead made up of volunteers forming working groups to address specific issues on inequality in the workplace.
Who Is a Part of It?
A-list actresses like Reese Witherspoon, Ellen Page, Brie Larson, Natalie Portman, Kerry Washington, Eva Longoria, Ashley Judd, America Ferrera, Emma Stone, Rashida Jones and more have joined the collective, as well as Shonda Rhimes, Universal Pictures chairwoman Donna Langley and the co-chairwoman of the Nike Corporation, Maria Eitel.
Many others have taken to social media to publicly declare their support of the initiative, and as of Thursday, more than 1,000 people have signed their names to the Letter of Solidarity.
What Will It Do?
Time's Up has a Legal Defense Fund to subsidize legal support for women, especially in the working class, who have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace. Led by Michelle Obama's former chief of staff, Tina Tchen, with major donors like Meryl Streep, Witherspoon, J.J. Abrams and his wife, Katie McGrath, Rhimes, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, the fund's GoFundMe page has already raised more than $15 million of its $15.5 million goal.
As far as other working groups, one has formed the Commission on Sexual Harassment and Advancing Equality in the Workplace, which is led by Anita Hill, and is working to end sexual harassment in media and entertainment. Another working group called 50/50by2020 aims to reach gender parity in Hollywood within the next two years.
Why Are Women Wearing Black to the Golden Globes?
Time's Up has encouraged women attending the 2018 Golden Globes on Sunday to wear black as a sign of solidarity with those affected by sexual misconduct.
"This is a moment of solidarity, not a fashion moment," Longoria, who is expected to walk the red carpet with Witherspoon, explained to The New York Times. "For years, we've sold these awards shows as women, with our gowns and colors and our beautiful faces and our glamour."
"This time the industry can't expect us to go up and twirl around," she added. "That's not what this moment is about."
Many actors and actresses will also be wearing a "Time's Up" pin, designed by Arianne Phillips. Witherspoon reportedly tapped the Nocturnal Animals costume designer and stylist for the job, which the initiative hopes will provide an alternate way of supporting the cause, for those who won't be wearing black on Sunday.
The Golden Globes will be held on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018, and be broadcast live from the Beverly Hilton on NBC at 5 p.m. PST/8 p.m. EST. Non-cable subscribers will be able to access a live stream of the show via services including DirecTV Now, Sling TV, YouTube TV and Hulu with live TV. Cable subscribers will also have access to a live stream via the NBC app and website, provided they authenticate via their cable provider.
RELATED CONTENT:
