Problems of inequality aren’t going to be solved overnight, but change starts with a conversation, and when it comes to the gender gap between men and women in all industries, that talk has been going on far too long. It’s the kind of issue that feels like it should have been resolved years if not decades ago, but at the moment, it feels like there is a tide forming, and Jennifer Lawrence is the latest to weigh in on the topic.
In an essay for Lena Dunham‘s Lenny, Lawrence admits that her problems involving millions of dollars in wages isn’t exactly "relatable," but shares that her eyes were opened after the Sony hack about how much work she had to do to get her fair shake in the industry. Here’s an excerpt of what she had to say.
And Lawrence saves her sharpest barbs for her closing thoughts:
I don’t think I’ve ever worked for a man in charge who spent time contemplating what angle he should use to have his voice heard. It’s just heard. Jeremy Renner, Christian Bale, and Bradley Cooper all fought and succeeded in negotiating powerful deals for themselves. If anything, I’m sure they were commended for being fierce and tactical, while I was busy worrying about coming across as a brat and not getting my fair share. Again, this might have NOTHING to do with my vagina, but I wasn’t completely wrong when another leaked Sony email revealed a producer referring to a fellow lead actress in a negotiation as a “spoiled brat.” For some reason, I just can’t picture someone saying that about a man.
It’s potent stuff , and good luck to anyone who tries shortchange Lawrence from here on out. She’s getting real paid from now on.
Meanwhile, the actress has dropped a promising picture from her slate. THR reports she has exited "The Rosie Project" which is slated to be directed by Richard Linklater. Based on Graeme Simsion‘s bestselling book, with a script by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber ("The Spectacular Now," "The Fault In Our Stars"), this is a romantic comedy about a scientist who thinks he’s put together the formula for the perfect match, until he meets someone who turns his whole theory upside down. The project is still a go, with recasting for the lead underway, and Linklater still attached.
The good news? Variety reports that she’s in talks to star in Darren Aronofsky‘s next film, which he plans to shoot in the spring. There are no plot details, but it’s an independent project he wrote after being unable to launch a movie at New Regency about "a boy living in Staten Island whose drawings come to life." And no, it’s not that Evil Kneivel project with Channing Tatum either — Aronofsky is no longer involved with that one.
Update 10/13: THR reports that Richard Linklater has also exited "The Rosie Project."
She\’s being paid almost twice as much as Chris Pratt in their new movie Passengers.
It\’s almost like actors get paid based on how big of a star they are…
Jennifer Lawrence is an actress who came to prominence playing the role of "Katniss Everdeen” in four wonderful movies based on the Hunger Games books. As the last movie is about to be released she unleashed a far left-wing attack on Republicans and people of religious faith. She kept these views to herself until she no longer needed the people in this demographic group to pump up the profits. Lawrence made 52 million dollars in 2015 making her the highest paid actress of 2015.
@Chris yeah CUM Legend
Pay is based on what the market values what your worth is. Popularity, screen time, how much the film makes all comes into factor. What these actors seem to be ignorant of is basic economics.
JW would be paid less if she were a man. Look at the top male actors today and the vast majority don\’t get big-big on her level until about 30 years old. If you\’re going to complain it has to be about audience tastes because that\’s what\’s driving it.
I\’m triggered by Jennifer Lawrence\’s lack of commentary in defense of POC and other diversity. Being born an attractive white woman and then declining to stick up for the marginalized within Hollywood is downright ableist. She needs to check her privilege.
I\’m glad that Richard Linklater exited this project. He should keep on making his own personal films, instead of these meaningless and cheap romantic comedies.
*inconsistent. Anyway, bye! (He was only a ghost, all along)
That, too, is a complex issue @Robyn. Unethical behavior is despicable, and shouldn\’t be pardoned. However, criminal behavior is also despicable, and shouldn\’t be pardoned. So, it really comes down to your own moral compass, "Do two wrongs make a right?" That\’s obviously putting it simply, but it still rings true. Everyone is going to have their own answer to that, and any answer helps define your own moral compass. I do not believe two wrongs make a right, but understand that sometimes it can do more good than harm. However, does anyone truly believe that Sony had the whistle blown on them? That the publication of their internal documents should be considered a courageous act? Regardless, the information is there, and it\’s up to the individual to choose to ignore or embrace it. It just bothers me when people aren\’t morally consistent, and rather pick and choose whatever supports their arguments at that time even if it betrays their character. Or, if you\’re going to d o that, at least acknowledge that it may appear out of character, but it\’s too important to ignore. These are mainly things that personally frustrate me on a societal level, degradation of language and people not remaining consistent in their ideals, but I\’m pretty much gonna shut up now. I don\’t want to deviate the conversation anymore than I have already.
There is no hypocrisy. By @James\’ argument, no one should ever discuss the Pentagon Papers because they were obtained illegally. It doesn\’t work that way. Once any information is published somewhere like the NY Times, it becomes public knowledge and anyone can discuss it. She\’s also not greedy, if you read her whole statement she states that she\’s not doing this for herself but to draw attention to the fact that women are not paid the same as men in Hollywood (and elsewhere).
So, if illegal behavior uncovers unethical behavior, then the unethical behavior gets a pass? I\’m not sure I understand that logic.
@Rosa: I just want to clarify that I\’m not calling Jennifer Lawrence a hypocrite solely for condemning anyone involved, directly or indirectly, with her private pics being made available on the internet. That\’s absurd, and I would agree with your opinion of me if that were the case. However, hypocrisy usually involves at least two items of contention that contradict one another, hence creating a double-standard. When she spoke out about the violation of her privacy it was passionate and scathing, as well as highly effective in its goals. However, being fully aware of her stance in that event, it\’s disappointing that she would utilize hacked, private information, without addressing the potential of a double-standard, in order to support her arguments. That is hypocritical, by definition. Further, my observation is in no way meant to diminish her argument, it is simply disappointing. As disappointing as any and every news outlet who posted the illegaly acquired information, and as disappointing as anyone and everyone who partook of the information (which is exactly Ms. Lawrence\’s feelings regarding the matter of leaked private information, according to her earlier essay). She has the potential to be an incredible voice when it comes to social issues, but exhibiting a double-standard while speaking out about double-standards can only serve to hurt her cause. Finally, just to drive the conversation back to the actual issue, equal pay for equal work should be the standard without question. It\’s just a common sense ideaology. However, I don\’t believe the issue simply one of gender. The majority of businesses will try to low-ball anyone they consider for employment, they will try to get away with as little compensation as they can to support their bottom-line. This isn\’t cynicism, and I am not referring to all businesses. This is first-hand hiring experience at multiple jobs. I think Ms. Lawrence makes an excellent point regarding social stigmas, and how that can cause a woman to be concerned regarding how she\’ll appear to a potential employer. I don\’t believe there will ever be a regulating body to force businesses to stick by an equal pay for equal work ethic. It falls upon the individual to nurture their own sense of self-worth, combat social norms, and fight for what they deserve. Which isn\’t always possible because sometimes you just can\’t risk not getting the job. It\’s such a deeply complex issue that on its surface appears simple, "Equal pay for equal work." It should be simple. But until that magical day when all businesses place actual value upon their work for force, it\’s up to individual, men and women, to fight for what they deserve. And, I agree, this is a more of an uphill fight for women, for various reasons, but to me the wage gap issue pales in comparison to the overall wage issue. It creates an unfortunate division when we\’re all basically getting shafted. Not saying the issue shouldn\’t have a voice, it should, even if only to eliminate antiquated traditionalisms. It\’s just unfortunate that we can\’t seem to unite, but rather we choose to divide. That\’s all, yo.
Poop
Is she KIDDING??? Men don\’t have to think of an angle for their voice to be heard??? EVERYONE in the entertainment industry needs an angle. EVERYONE has to be EXTREMELY politically correct. Jeremy Renner and Chris Evans had to apologize for making a "sexist" joke about a COMIC BOOK CHARACTER. Second of all, it is WAY easier for a woman to become successful in the entertainment (both film and music) industry than a man. UnbeLIEVABLE. Lastly, my wife has had 5 jobs, including the US Army. She never ONCE made less than a male co-worker in her same position. In fact, in one of her jobs (Best Buy) she made 50 cents MORE than one of her male co-workers because of previous experience. And in the Army, she made the same amount of money as ANY MALE of her same rank, even though many men her rank were fighting in Afghanistan while she sat behind a desk in Ohklahoma. Can you even imagine a company, like Starbucks, let\’s say, going, "Okay, we\’ll be starting you off at $10 an hour, and…oh, wait. You\’re a woman. Never mind. We\’ll be starting you off at $9.21 and hour". It\’s INSANE. The "wage gap" simply DOES NOT exist and is just another lie used by the feminist organization to further their agenda! Jennifer Lawrence is a brainwashed imbecile.
This problem is pervasive from the millionaire to the woman that takes your order at McDonalds. However, Jennifer Lawrence has the ear of the public and should bring awareness to this issue. And she SHOULD be paid equal, if not more, for drawing viewers to the theaters. She has a lot of box-office pull and should be compensated. As for the "morality" of not wanting people to see you naked but speaking about a very problem that effects all women…..hmmm, I don\’t follow the logic. If a woman takes a nude pic, it should be her prerogative to make that pic public or not. If she wants to paid the same as her male peers, she also has the right to express that. Wow. Wow. Wow. Get a clue.
She is not being objective, she is just blaming sexuality to get more attention, we all have read that Cooper is a shitty guy which nobody likes and that Bale (even though he is a great actor) is hard and difficult to deal with.
When people like them negotiate they are risking losing the job, so its a bet, which she does not want to make. How many times have we read that X actor lost the part because negotiations didn\’t went well? She is just being greedy thinking she could have gotten more. Thing is, she wanted to play safe and she is RICH.
One more thing … guys insult and bash at each other, but we don\’t care as much as women. If she cant picture it is because we don\’t wuss about it and let it go.
JENNIFER LAWRENCE RULES!!!!
How \’bout "YOU\’RE ALL OVER PAID".
Again, and again I see how male readers just don\’t understand the discrimination women are faced with (as evident in the comments section). The hacking and release of intimate pictures is a vastly different issue to that of email communications and financial statements. Of course, hacking is a crime. But to call JL a hypocrite for condemning what is essentially a violation of her body is just ludicrous and smacks of misogyny. I think that it\’s important for all people to speak out when they are discriminated against because how else are we going to stop discriminatory practices if we don\’t even know about them. It is vital to show that gender discrimination in pay affects all stratas of society from the 0.001 percent rich to minimum wage factory workers. This is a huge societal problem that we need to eradicate within the next generation.
I totally agree the situation stinks and they should be paid equally, however, I also feel that they are all spoiled, shallow and pretty much irrelevant. In which case surely it\’s time male movie stars had their pay reduced to the same, let\’s face it glorious, rate as their female co stars. Now can we concern ourselves with the very real and desperate, social inequality that exists in society?
And the men she mentions haven\’t been nominated for Academy Awards 3 times or won won, either. And they were still getting paid more than her. That alone should tell you how wrong the pay system is. She has been the lead or co-lead in all of her films, she has carried The Hunger Games franchise on her shoulders, no one is going to see it for Hutcherson or Hemsworth, she is the one selling the tickets to that franchise. It\’s hilarious to see how some men react when it\’s pointed out that a woman is doing the same job and better than her male counterpoints — you start whining and making up fake excuses. She doesn\’t come off as spoiled at all, you come off as insecure and immature, @Xen. She started acting when she was 15, not 5 years ago. If you\’re going to try to state a fact, make sure you know what you\’re talking about. She\’s being paid what she is because she sells tickets. It\’s called show BUSINESS for a reason.
It\’s nothing to do with vagina and everything to do with female culture.
It has way more to do with her experience than her gender. First off she\’s one of the highest paid females right now. Second, she\’s only been on the scene for about five years where as all the men she mentioned have been acting for at least a decade. In time (and probably already) she\’ll be out earning most of her costars.
She compares herself to actors who have been in the industry longer than her and have either lead or co-lead major box office hits. Sorry, Jenny, but you\’re doing exactly what other gender ideologues do when talking about gender pay gaps. They claim all men and women working in all fields of work should be paid the same. But they don\’t take into consideration factors of each individual like experience, hours worked, and in the case of actors; box office in-take and popularity. Oh, and she does come off as a spoiled brat because she doesn’t seem to comprehend all the factors that go into her salary along with being hostile. And associating with Lena Dunham shows exactly what kind of a person she is.
There is no hypocrisy is what Jennifer wrote. Did you read the whole thing? There is no moral inconsistency for her quoting "news" that appeared everywhere from the NY Times to Variety. It\’s all public knowledge now. You can\’t put the star salaries back in the folder any more than you can put the leaked nudes of her and others. She\’s specifically not asking for sympathy for herself, she\’s addressing the issue of equal pay for equal work. No one complains when Robert Downy Jr. demands $5 million to be the voice of Mr. Peanut (which is an outrageous demand), they applaud him for getting as much as he could. She should also be applauded for addressing the ridiculous inequity for the pay differences between actors and actresses.
Wait a sec. She negotiates her own contracts? Assumed she had an agent doing that as I\’m sure the other actors did. If so, perhaps she needs to fire her agent and get a better one.
She\’s making 30 million for Passengers. I feel no sympathy for her. How about the folks behind the scenes who live job to job? Men and women.
her pay was all over the news. it didnt really say something like "hacked information about pay, click here". The problem with her essay is that, although true, it\’s not going to get much sympathy. simply too many far worse problems we are chin deep in right now, for anyone to care about a multimillionaire.
I\’m all for equal pay for equal work, but I can\’t help but point out some hypocrisy here, albeit somewhat of-topic. Jennifer Lawrence essentially shamed, very publicly, anyone and everyone who viewed her private pics, which were available on the internet as a result of her (among many others) being the victim of a hacker. Now, in this piece, she\’s using material only available to the general public because of hacking to support her argument. I like Jennifer Lawrence, as well as a number of her films, but this is tainted with a degree of hypocrisy. Contribute to the discussion, by all means, but at least show some moral consistency before taking on social issues.
Jennifer Lawrence is a LEGEND.
Kevin Hart is a GREEDY WHORE!
Poop