Harry Potter star reveals her support for anti-harassment campaign
Emma Watson is one of the latest of a growing number of Hollywood stars to reveal she is backing a new campaign to fight sexual harassment across the entertainment industry and other sectors.
The Time’s Up action plan was created in the wake of the sexual assault and harassment allegations which have emerged in recent months.
Other British women in the film industry to show their support for the movement include Kate Beckinsale, Emilia Clarke, Thandie Newton, Karen Gillan, Naomie Harris and Cara Delevingne.
Harry Potter actress Watson shared a post on Instagram with her 41.1 million followers, writing: “The clock’s been ticking on the abuse of power. I stand in solidarity with women across every industry to say #TIMESUP on abuse, harassment, and assault. #TIMESUP on oppression and marginalization.“# times upon misrepresentation and under representation.”
She urged people to “sign the solidarity letter” and to donate to the legal fund.
Time’s Up will advocate for legislation to tackle workplace harassment. Money raised – about $13 million (£9.6m) so far – will be used to fund legal support for victims of sexual harassment at work, aimed primarily at those who are unable to afford fees, such as agricultural or factory workers, caretakers and waitresses. More than 300 women across the entertainment industry launched the initiative, including Reese Witherspoon, Meryl Streep, Shonda Rhimes, Natalie Portman, Eva Longoria and Ashley Judd. It was unveiled with a full-page advert in the New York Times, and it also has a website.
A letter from the group read: “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.”
“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.”