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#TIMESUP at The Golden Globes Sought to Assist Victims of Sexual Assault

The 75th Golden Globe Awards was the first major Hollywood award show since over eighty women spoke out about producer Harvey Weinstein’s predatory sexual behavior. In the months leading up to the Golden Globes, more survivors of sexual harassment and abuse came forward to share their stories. It was necessary for the Hollywood Foreign Press to acknowledge this powerful and important cultural shift, and a number of celebrities used the evening to support gender equality and survivors of harassment and violence. Building from the #MeToo movement, women in Hollywood developed “Time’s Up”, a coordinated effort to take actionable steps against sexual harassment and abuse, including the creation of a legal fund for people who have experienced harassment or abuse. At the Golden Globes, many celebrities promoted Time’s Up by wearing all black or a pin. The “black-out” of the red carpet at the Golden Globes served as an act of unity against sexual harassment and abuse. While almost everyone participated in the “black-out”, some elements of Time’s Up were more effective than others. Many women took time to discuss #MeToo and #TIMESUP in their acceptance speeches. Oprah, who accepted the Cecil B. DeMille Award spoke about the importance of bravery, visibility, and hope. However, none of the male award winners discussed #MeToo or #TIMESUP in their speeches, and – as presenter Natalie Portman pointed out – no women were nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Director. The evening was a successful first step for addressing sexual harassment and violence, but it also proved just how long of a road we have ahead of us.