Stars ‘shocked’ at gender pay disparity in Hollywood

Stars are sharing their shock at reports of a significant pay disparity between Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Williams for reshoots on the Ridley Scott film “All the Money in the World.”

Two reports say Wahlberg was paid far more than Williams for the reshoots in which Kevin Spacey replaced Christopher Plummer after accusations of sexual misconduct surfaced against Spacey. USA Today reported this week that Wahlberg was paid $1.5 million for the 10 days of reshoots, while Williams got less than $1,000 for the same work.

Representatives for Wahlberg and Williams did not respond to requests for comment Friday. Imperative Entertainment, which produced the film, declined to comment.

But actor Liam Neeson said it’s a healthy and necessary discussion to have, because “the disparity, sometimes, is (expletive) disgraceful.”

“We as men have got to be part of it,” he told The Associated Press earlier this week. “We started it, so we have to be part of the solution.”

He said he wouldn’t take a pay cut to make things equal, “but there has to be parity. There just has to be.”

Actress Diane Kruger said she was surprised by the size of the wage gap between Wahlberg and Williams, but that she also isn’t paid the same as the men she works with.

“I have never been paid the same as my male co-star, ever,” Kruger said. “But often it’s not them. It’s the studios or whoever makes the deal, and it’s terrible because it makes you feel undervalued or easily exchangeable. And it’s just not OK, in any field, not just as an actor...

“I think we need to be more conscious when we make deals, to be strong and stay united... where we have a coherent plan of us women, what we need to do to make this happen.”

Veteran actress Rita Moreno also said she was shocked by the news, but she doesn’t blame Wahlberg.