After equal-pay outcry, $2M to Time’s Up
Wahlberg and his agency donate reshoot money
In the wake of a public outcry over the Hollywood pay gap, Mark Wahlberg and his agency, William Morris Endeavor, have committed $2 million to the Time’s Up legal defense fund.
The donation is in recognition of the pay discrepancy for reshoots of All the Money in the World, according to a statement provided to USA TODAY by WME spokewoman Marie Sheehy. Wahlberg has pledged his $1.5 million fee and WME has donated $500,000.
Both donations will be made in the name of Michelle Williams, Wahlberg’s co-star.
“Over the last few days my reshoot fee for All the Money in the World has become an important topic of conversation,” Wahlberg said in a statement Saturday. “I 100% support the fight for fair pay and I’m donating the $1.5M to the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund in Michelle Williams’ name.”
WME said the conversation over the pay discrepancy is “a reminder that those of us in a position of influence have a responsibility to challenge inequities, including the gender wage gap.”
“It’s crucial that this conversation continues within our community and we are committed to being part of the solution,” the company’s statement said.
After the donation, Williams broke her silence on the pay gap that surrounded the reshoots.
“Today isn’t about me,” she said in a statement sent to USA TODAY Saturday evening by her representative, Mara Buxbaum. “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.”
In an exclusive story, USA TODAY first reported the pay discrepancy Jan. 9, revealing Williams was paid an $80 per diem totaling less than $1,000 for the reshoots while Wahlberg was paid $1.5 million. That math works out to Williams being paid less than one-tenth of 1% of her co-star.
WME represented both Wahlberg and Williams during negotiations for All the Money, including the film’s reshoots.
USA TODAY reported Thursday that Wahlberg exercised a co-star approval clause in his contract and refused to approve Christopher Plummer as a replacement for Kevin Spacey in the film unless he was paid more than $1 million.
The reshoots took place in Europe the week of Thanksgiving after Spacey, who played billionaire J. Paul Getty in the film, became embroiled in a sexual misconduct scandal last fall.
On Saturday, WME noted the $500,000 donation in Williams’ name is in addition to the $1 million pledge the company made to the organization earlier this month.
The controversy over the pay gap caused an outcry in Hollywood, with stars such as Jessica Chastain, Eva Longoria and others expressing outrage on social media.
On Thursday night, Olivia Munn roasted Wahlberg from the stage of the Critics’ Choice Awards during a sarcastic toast segment.
Williams called the outcome of her story going public “indelible” and saluted Anthony Rapp, whose allegations against Spacey opened the door for others to come forward.
“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,” she said. “Anthony Rapp, for all the shoulders you stood on, now we stand on yours.”
“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.”
Michelle Williams