When Natalie Portman took to the Oscars red carpet in a Dior couture cape embroidered with the names of the female directors snubbed by the Academy, she became the centre of an internet debate.
While some were impressed by Portman’s decision, heralding the look as a ‘feminist act’, others were quick to label the move performative – with Rose McGowan among those calling her out in the days following the ceremony.
Taking to Facebook to share her grievance, the actor and #MeToo activist wrote, “Do us all a favour and hang up your embroidered activist cloak,” explaining she found Portman’s gesture ‘deeply offensive’.
“What is it with actresses of your ilk?”, she continued. “You ‘A-listers’ could change the world if you’d take a stand instead of being the problem. Yes, you, Natalie. You are the problem. Lip service is the problem. Fake support of other women is the problem.”
Though Portman is vocal when it comes to the lack of gender equality in Hollywood and beyond, a number of people took to social media post-Oscars to point out that her own production company, Handsomecharlie Films, has only hired two female directors in its 12-year history, with one of them being Portman herself.
That said, many of McGowan’s followers have acknowledged that Portman’s actions aren’t entirely without merit. While wearing a beautiful, handcrafted couture cape is in no way going to come anywhere near close to solving the problems that are rife in the film industry, having one of the world’s biggest stars take a stand against inequality for the whole world to see might just push the Academy to finally wake up.