It was lights, camera, and finally taking action against the abuses of power in Hollywood. The Golden Globes opened with a crowd of black garments, Time’s Up pins and Seth Meyers’ opening monologue, which was scathing and ruthless: the right approach to a problem that a good part of the entertainment industry has been involved or complicit in.
Actresses, activists, comedians, and nominees from all of the year’s best work were that night united by the Time’s Up movement, an answer to the problems brought to light by the #MeToo movement and the need for upheaval in Hollywood.
The evening went on with dozens of powerful moments. Attention was drawn to a range of injustices, not just sexual assault, but widely unaddressed sexism and racism. The night had a clear message: that these problems can no longer be tucked away, and they need to be dealt with. The Globes did a good job of keeping abusers out of its nominations for the most part. However, there were some gaps, as well as new information that came to light when it was too late to change decisions. So the awards season baton is passed, and as our eyes shift to the upcoming Academy Awards, so should our scrutiny.
Who gets a pass? Who is held accountable?
There is one new set of allegations that immediately comes to mind as awards season enters full swing, and it is a name familiar with controversy. James Franco, nominated for The Disaster Artist, attended the Globes in support of the Time’s Up movement. He won Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical. There were a few funny moments up onstage with Tommy Wiseau. The internet had a good laugh. It didn’t take long for the tone online to shift, though, as Ally Sheedy, who has worked with Franco before, called out Franco in a vague series of tweets. Then other women began tweeting about encounters with Franco, and how he used his power to exploit them.
James Franco addressed the controversy on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and he did a good job. It’s hard to tell whether he’s just a very good actor or if he’s genuine, but he maintained support for Time’s Up. It was a difficult interview to process because of how genuine he came across. The allegations against Franco are many, and I have every reason to believe them. I also believe he feels regret for his actions (because they were bad or because he was exposed, we may never know).
“The things that I heard on Twitter … are not accurate,” said Franco, “But I completely support people coming out and being able to have a voice because they didn’t have a voice for so long. So, I don’t want to shut them down in any way. [I think it’s a good thing] and I support it.” He went on to say that he cannot live his life if there is “restitution to be made.”
I honestly don’t know what to do with his statement. Do we remove his name from the nomination lists, where his movie will inevitably end up? Will Franco ask to have his name withdrawn from nominations, since he’s in support of the movement? I think that if he is dedicated to change, he will step away for a while and earn back the public’s trust. Franco, while a main target for scrutiny, is not the only celeb whose involvement in the movement is being questioned. More stories have surfaced, most recently one about Aziz Ansari, who won Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy TV Series. Many celebrities that made bold statements in black clothes at the Globes have supported and defended both accused and proven abusers in the past.
Margaret Atwood, who has been widely praised for her novel A Handmaid’s Tale, signed a letter in support of Steven Galloway, former chairman of UBC’s creative writing program, who was fired following allegations of sexual harassment. Natalie Portman, a huge proponent of the #MeToo movement, along with many other celebrities, signed a petition in 2009 in support of director Roman Polanski. Polanski was arrested and charged with five offenses involving the drugging and rape of a 13-year-old girl. He fled the country to avoid imprisonment.
The list goes on, and most celebrities have yet to address why they are willing to give certain people a pass for their behaviour.
It leads to a confusing point, an impasse. Hollywood needs to take a solid stance in this movement, and that means holding those involved accountable for their actions. Not necessarily to punish them, but to educate them. Celebrities need to hold themselves accountable, as James Franco seems to be on the path to doing—time will tell if he does. Pride needs to be set aside and apologies need to be made. Genuine ones, not “I’m sorry you think I did something wrong,” but “I’m sorry for the harm I’ve caused.”
A few celebrities criticized have begun to speak out. Greta Gerwig expressed guilt over working with Woody Allen, and said she will never work with him again. Timothée Chalamet and Rebecca Hall have promised to donate their salaries earned working with the director to Time’s Up and other similar charities.
Hollywood needs a fresh start. We all do. So going forward, when they announce awards show nominees or casting for big budget movies, do not be afraid to scrutinize. Once we stop letting each other get away with these things, we can start to build a safer world. As with anything in life, good behaviour should be rewarded and those who behave badly get a Time’s Up style time-out.