Stars call to end work abuse
Almost 200 British female entertainment stars called for an international movement to end sexual misconduct across society in a letter published ahead of the British Academy Film Awards yesterday.
Kate Winslet, Kristin Scott Thomas, Emma Thompson, Naomie Harris, Emma Watson and Gemma Arterton are among those saying that 2018 should be ‘‘the year that time was up on sexual harassment and abuse’’.
Announcing a fund to support women and men battling workplace abuse – modeled on the ‘‘Time’s Up’' movement in the U.S. – the stars said ‘‘with our collective power, we can galvanise others’’.
Former Harry Potter star Watson has given the fund £1m pounds (US$1.4 million), according to its page on the Go Fund Me website.
Keira Knightley and Tom Hiddleston are each listed as having given £10,000.
Feminist activists and antiviolence campaigners are set to mix with the stars on the red carpet on Monday morning for the awards at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Many female guests are expected to wear black, as tremors from abuse revelations rumble through the awards season.
Allegations of sexual harassment and abuse have been levelled at scores of entertainment figures since women began coming forward to accuse Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein last year.
Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge were also in the Bafta Awards’ audience – and many people will be watching to see whether Kate joins in wearing black to support the fight against sexual abuse.
Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley hosted the awards ceremony, where the monster fantasy The Shape of Water, the tragi-comedy Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and the World War II flag-waver Darkest Hour were the front-runners.
All three were up for best film, alongside the sun-drenched romance Call Me By Your Name and the World War II drama Dunkirk.