Celebs' all-black silent protest speaks loud at Golden Globes
Style went hand-in-hand with activism at the 75th Golden Globe Awards as a slew of celebrities flaunted all-black dresses as a silent protest against the spate of sexual harassment scandals that have rocked Hollywood. Putting out the message louder were black-and-white 'Time's Up' pins.
Veteran actress Meryl Streep, who wore a bespectacled look with an off-shoulder dress, walked the red carpet on Sunday with National Domestic Workers Alliance director and award-winning activist Ai-jen Poo.
"I think people are aware, now, of a power imbalance, and it's something that leads to abuse. It's led to abuse in our own industry, and it's led to abuse across the domestic workers' field of work. It's in the military, it's in Congress, it's everywhere.
"And we want to fix that. And we feel sort of emboldened in this particular moment to stand together in a thick black line dividing then from now," Streep told Ryan Seacrest.
Actress Michelle Williams appeared in black with Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement, which spread all over social media as women spoke out against the sexual harassment they face in everyday life.
Viola Davis said: "I want to give room to the women that don't normally have voices to talk about their sexual assault and rape and I'm listening. They need to know that it's not their fault and they're not dirty and that's my message tonight."
Amy Poehler arrived with Saru Jayaraman, president of Restaurant Opportunities Center United.
From Catherine Zeta Jones, Chris Hemsworth, Alicia Vikander, Kendall Jenner, Mariah Carey and Jessica Chastain to Nicole Kidman, Kit Harington, Mandy Moore, Heidi Klum and more -- most stars stuck to the all-black dress, which robbed the red carpet of colour but not purpose.
Besides that was the 'Time's Up' pin which was seen on the lapels and collars of stars like Justin Timberlake, Daniel Kaluuya, Ewan McGregor, Michelle Pfeiffer, William H. Macy, Joseph Fiennes, Nick Jonas and Ryan Seacrest.
It is part of the 'Time's Up' campaign, an initiative created by several hundred actresses and female agents, writers, directors and entertainment executives to fight sexual misconduct across the country since revelations about alleged crimes by producer Harvey Weinstein.
Comedian Seth Meyers who hosted the event was also dressed in black, took a dig at Hollywood names Kevin Spacey and Harvey Weinstein, who have been alleged for using their position to sexually harass people. The award show was held here on Sunday.
"A lot of people thought it would be more appropriate for a woman to host tonight's show, and they might be right, but if it makes you feel any better I have absolutely no power in Hollywood," Meyers said, as the camera panned to actor Seth Rogen in the audience.
There was mention of Weinstein in his monologue.
"Don't worry, he'll be back in 20 years when he becomes the first person to be booed at the annual In Memoriam," said Meyers, which was followed by groans from the audience.
"It will sound like that," he added.
Meyers, who was hosting the Golden Globe Awards for the first time, took a jibe at disgraced actor Kevin Spacey too.
He said: "Despite everything that happened this year, the show goes on. For example, I was happy to hear they were going to do another season of 'House of Cards'. Is Christopher Plummer available for that too? I hope he can do a Southern accent because Kevin Spacey sure couldn't."