“YOUR SILENCE is THE problem. You’ll accept a fake award breathlessly and effect no real change. I despise your hypocrisy”
The coming awards season will be a difficult time for Hollywood. It’s been a seismic, weird year following a slew of sexual assault allegations, and naturally all eyes will be on how (and whether) this year’s ceremonies acknowledge the horrific revelations of abuse by men like Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey.
Last week it was rumoured that actresses including Meryl Streep, Emma Stone and Jessica Chastain would wear black on the red carpet in protest against Hollywood’s culture of assault. For Rose McGowan, one of the first actors to lift the lid on Weinstein’s numerous crimes, this was laughably inadequate.
In a now-deleted tweet, McGowan accused Streep of hypocrisy and called for the nominees to do more. She wrote: “Actresses, like Meryl Streep, who happily worked for The Pig Monster, are wearing black @GoldenGlobes in a silent protest. YOUR SILENCE is THE problem. You’ll accept a fake award breathlessly and affect (sic) no real change. I despise your hypocrisy.” In a final shot, McGowan suggested “maybe you should all wear Marchesa,” the label of Weinstein’s ex-wife Georgina Chapman.
No, Meryl, IT’S A FUCKING CRIME. You are such a lie # ROSEARMY Meryl Streep on Harvey Weinstein allegations: It's 'the most gargantuan example of disrespect' - USA TODAY https://t.co/3E2oiCauME
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) December 8, 2017
This is not the first time McGowan has attacked Streep, a frequent Weinstein collaborator. When Streep described Weinstein’s actions as “the most gargantuan example of disrespect” at the Massachusetts Conference for Women earlier this month, McGowan hit back at her moderate language. She tweeted: “No Meryl, IT’S A FUCKING CRIME. You are such a lie.”
McGowan’s comments drew criticism Amber Tamlyn, star of House and Two and a Half Men, who posted that “Rose McGowan is a friend and while I support her kind of movement, I do not support any woman (or man) shaming or taunting the movements of other women. And telling us all to wear Marchesa? This is beneath you, Rose.”
Whether you agree with the way McGowan has vocally criticised fellow actresses throughout the Weinstein scandal, it’s really the allegations surrounding him that should be scrutinised rather than how victims respond.