Jessica Chastain has defended the Time’s Up movement after Thandie Newton‘s criticism yesterday that she believed was excluded because of she lacked social clout and wasn’t “hot” or “mainstream enough“.
In an interview with News Corp yesterday, Newton said that not being actively included within the movement has been “very, very painful“. Newton first publicly spoke about her experiences of assault in Hollywood back in 2013, pre-dating the #MeToo movement.
Chastain, one of Time’s Up founding members, has apologised for any sense of exclusion, though the comments were directed at Newton, but director and actress Asia Argento, who had tweeted her support for Newton.
She wrote that Newton’s comments were “proof, if any was needed, that #TimesUp is an exclusive club (and extended feel-good PR opportunity) for Hollywood elites that shuns survivors“.
https://twitter.com/AsiaArgento/status/988292144837382144
Argento was one of several women who detailed how Harvey Weinstein had sexually assaulted or harassed them in Ronan Farrow‘s ground-breaking New Yorker piece last October.
Chastain has responded, stating that she “felt so bad that some feel excluded“, adding that she “was never asked to join anything. I just came forward to see how I could be of service. No one is unwelcome.”
I have felt so bad that some feel excluded. I was never asked to join anything, I just came forward to see how I could be of service. No one is unwelcome. The more women that come together, standing shoulder to shoulder, the stronger we are.
— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) April 23, 2018
Chastain also defended criticism of direct exclusion, stating to Argento that:
I invited you to the first meeting at my house Nov 27th but unfortunately you were out of town. It wasn’t called #TimesUp cuz we didn’t have a name. It was just a group of actresses coming together to see how we could support the brave women coming forward & create lasting change
She also clarified that Argento – and, by extension, Newton – “were so brave to speak up & start this movement. It is my goal to make sure it will never be in vain. I will always support you and what you did.”
You, and so many others, were so brave to speak up & start this movement. It is my goal to make sure it will never be in vain. I will always support you and what you did.
— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) April 23, 2018
Fellow Time’s Up advocate and actress Amber Tamblyn has also weighed in, writing that “none of us needed an invitation to do the work. We just did the work. Period. This is such a disheartening dialogue to be having with fellow women. Such a shame.”
As of writing, Argento or Newton have not responded.
Source: Vulture
Image credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
