Mark Wahlberg Donates Entire $1.5 Million Reshoot Fee To Time's Up In Honor Of Michelle Williams
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The 'Time's Up' movement got a kick in the gut after The Golden Globes, learning that pay inequity in Hollywood is so rampant that Mark Wahlberg received an additional $1.5 million for reshoots, compared to the per diem allowance of about $1000 a day for Michelle Williams, one of the founders of 'Time's Up'. USA Today reported on Tuesday that this pay gap was the result of Ridley Scott's decision to reshoot scenes of the thriller about J Paul Getty, without the disgraced Kevin Spacey, who was replaced with Christopher Plummer.
Leading feminist activist, actor Jessica Chastain was among the first to publicize the disparity, tweeting, “Please go see Michelle’s performance in 'All the Money in the World'. She’s a brilliant Oscar-nominated, Golden Globe-winning actress. She has been in the industry for 20 years. She deserves more than 1% of her male costar’s salary.”
Amber Tamblyn quickly affirmed the math, replying via Twitter, “Michelle Williams was paid 1% of what her male co-star made on her latest film. This is totally unacceptable.”
Judd Apatow chimed in, “This is so messed up that it is almost hard to believe. Almost. This is how this business works. I wonder if the studio or Wahlberg will do something to make the situation less insane,” as actress Sophia Bush filled in more background, “Exposing the gross disparity in pay & hard evidence of the gender gap — negotiated by the SAME agents no less! — isn’t a witch hunt. It’s a demand for fair practices.”
Both performers are with William Morris Endeavor — although they have different agents. So William Morris Endeavor was very complicit in advancing the disparity.
On Saturday Wahlberg bowed to the public outcry, agreeing to donate his fee to the Time's Up fund.
"Over the last few days my reshoot fee for 'All the Money in the World' has become an important topic of conversation," Wahlberg said Saturday in a statement. "I 100 percent support the fight for fair pay and I’m donating the $1.5 million to the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund in Michelle Williams’ name.”
WME also responded to the injustice and pr nightmare, announcing: "The current conversation is a reminder that those of us in a position of influence have a responsibility to challenge inequities, including the gender wage gap. In recognition of the pay discrepancy on the 'All the Money in the World' reshoots, WME is donating an additional $500,000 to the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund in Michelle Williams’ name, following our $1 million pledge to the organization earlier this month. It’s crucial that this conversation continues within our community and we are committed to being part of the solution.”
In response to the news, Williams said in a statement given to The Hollywood Reporter: "Today isn’t about me. My fellow actresses stood by me and stood up for me, my activist friends taught me to use my voice, and the most powerful men in charge, they listened and they acted. If we truly envision an equal world, it takes equal effort and sacrifice. Today is one of the most indelible days of my life because of Mark Wahlberg, WME and a community of women and men who share in this accomplishment. [Kevin Spacey accuser] Anthony Rapp, for all the shoulders you stood on, now we stand on yours."
