While criticising last year’s Sony hack as “an abomination”, George Clooney has also said it was a positive force in bringing about a renewed conversation about the pay gap between men and women in Hollywood.
In a conversation with BBC Radio 4, the actor referred to the leaked emails that suggested American Hustle stars Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence were getting paid less than their male counterparts.
“One good thing that’s come out of [the Sony hack] is the conversation in very liberal Hollywood that women aren’t being paid the same and … there’s something like 15 female directors in a town of directors,” he said. “I think it’s a very good conversation that they’re starting to have.”
Clooney then went onto say that his production company has a number of female executives and that he loved the idea that his new film Tomorrowland featured more than one smart, strong woman.
Rose Byrne has also addressed the issue in a new interview with Pridesource.com, referring to the content of the Sony emails as “illegal”.
“All that stuff that was leaked through the internet when Sony was hacked – it all speaks for itself,” Byrne said. “So, it is beyond just misogyny. It’s legitimate discrimination based on gender, which is illegal. Any discrimination is, whether it’s sexuality, race or gender.”
Byrne recently founded an all-female production company with the aim of developing theatre, film and television with a female presence.
Earlier this month, Charlize Theron also weighed in on the exposed inequality, saying she used it to demand an equal pay for the upcoming Snow White and the Huntsman prequel. “When I thought about the temperature out there – with finding out what Jennifer and Amy were being paid on a set with guy actors who are their counterparts … They’re just as good as any of the guys on there. Yeah, that pissed me off!”
The recent findings of an investigation by the American Civil Liberties Union found that there is still “rampant discrimination” against women in the industry and it requires further examination from state and federal agencies.
