Hollywood actresses are planning to don all-black attire on the red carpet at the upcoming Golden Globes ceremony in acknowledgment of the #MeToo movement.
According to several news sources, both presenters and nominees like Emma Stone, Jessica Chastain, and Meryl Streep plan on participating on January 7.
“All female actresses attending the Globes are protesting by just wearing black gowns,” a source told Entertainment Weekly. Many are speculating the aesthetic could continue onto other red carpets, like the SAG Awards, the Emmys, and even the Oscars.
Hollywood has been the flashpoint for the #MeToo movement, which began after the New York Times and the New Yorker both published articles with extensive allegations of sexual assault and harassment against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. Actresses including Rose McGowan, Lupita Nyong’o, Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, and most recently, Salma Hayek, have been outspoken about the abuse and mistreatment they suffered not only at the hands of Weinstein but also by other powerful men in the industry.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the decision to dondark clothing stems both from the need to acknowledge that this isn’t just another year in Hollywood and also from a desire to use the redcarpet as a jumping off point for further discussions about gender inequality in the industry and beyond. It ties into the goals of the #AskHerMore campaign, which was launched byfilmmakerJennifer Siebel Newsom in 2014 to combat the practice of asking women insultingly softball questions about who they’re wearing and what their nails look like at awards ceremonies.
“AskHerMore is fundamentally about treating women as full human beings rather than objects. And I think #MeToo is about the same thing,” Newsom told the Hollywood Reporter. “I hope red carpet interviewers ask about the power the media has to make a difference in the world, how those involved in creating it can set a better example and the importance of broadening who gets to have a say in creating that media. For instance, the Golden Globes nominated five white men in the director category. White men are not the only people making good films. They are just the ones being recognized. Let’s talk about that on the red carpet. ”
While Hollywood has previously acknowledged current events on the red carpet, including wearing pins and accessories to support the ACLU and the victims of the Charlie Hebdo attacks and taking up a more somber dress code following the 9/11 attacks, this is the first time it’s been a coordinated effort between a large group of attendees and, presumably, their stylists. It potentially doesn’t hurt that black is chic, flattering on everyone, and means the fashion police will have their work cut out for them.
