Hollywood stars say Time’s Up with new initiative to fight sexual harassment

Actresses Reese Witherspoon and Natalie Portman are among hundreds of prominent Hollywood women who have launched a new initiative to fight sexual harassment.

Eva Longoria, Ashley Judd, Meryl Streep and producer Shonda Rhimes were also part of the group of females in the entertainment industry backing Time’s Up, created in the wake of recent sexual assault and harassment allegations. The group unveiled its mission with a full-page advert in the New York Times and has launched a website.

The campaign includes a legal fund to help women protect themselves from sexual misconduct.

The letter said: “We particularly want to lift up the voices, power and strength of women working in low-wage industries where the lack of financial stability makes them vulnerable to high rates of gender-based violence and exploitation.”

Time’s Up will advocate for legislation to tackle workplace harassment.

“The struggle for women to break in, to rise up the ranks and to simply be heard and acknowledged in male-dominated workplaces must end; time’s up on this impenetrable monopoly,” the letter said.

The group is also is backing the movement for women to wear black at the Golden Globes.