Kristen Stewart Slams Hollywood for Failing Women Filmmakers After #MeToo Gains
Kristen Stewart spoke out strongly about Hollywood’s treatment of women filmmakers during her keynote at the Academy and Chanel’s Women’s Luncheon in Los Angeles on Tuesday, according to sources present at the event.
The actress and director, whose feature directorial debut “The Chronology of Water” hits theaters next month, criticized the industry for not fully delivering on the progress promised after the MeToo movement.
“In a post-MeToo moment, it seemed possible that stories made by and for women were finally getting their due, that we might be allowed or even encouraged to express ourselves and our shared experiences, all of our experiences without filter,” Stewart said after being introduced by Academy president Lynette Howell Taylor.
She added that the reality has been much harder for women trying to tell authentic stories. “But I can now attest to the bare-knuckle brawling that it takes every step of the way when the content is too dark, too taboo, when the frankness with which it serves up observations about experiences routinely experienced by women, frequently provokes disgust and rejection.”
Stewart mixed humor with her criticism, sharing a candid moment about her mood. “I am in a severe state of PMS today…But I relish being able to say that my nerves are close to the surface of my skin, and it is a great day for that,” she said, earning laughs and applause from the audience.
She also addressed broader issues of inequality in Hollywood. “We can discuss wage gaps and taxes on tampons and measure [inequality] in lots of quantifiable ways, but the violence of silencing, it’s like we’re not even supposed to be angry. But I can eat this podium with a fork and f*c*i*g knife. I’m so angry,” Stewart said.
She pointed out the scarcity of women in positions of power in the industry. “There are too few of us. We’re all here together now, and it seems like there’s a lot, Jesus Christ, there’s not. It’s not our fault. Sure, our business is in a state of emergency, man…We are allowed to be proud of ourselves and maybe to allow each other to reclaim the gratitude we’ve all become talented at performing and really taste it from the inside out.”
Stewart’s speech was met with several rounds of applause as she continued to call for change. “I am thankful to you. I am not grateful to a boys’ club business model that pretends to want to hang out with us while siphoning our resources and belittling our true perspectives. Let’s try and not be tokenized. Let’s start printing our own currency,” she concluded.
Stewart’s remarks highlight the ongoing struggle women face in Hollywood despite promises of change after the MeToo movement. Her passionate speech emphasized the importance of authenticity and equality in storytelling.
What do you think about Kristen Stewart’s critique of Hollywood? Do you agree that the industry still fails women filmmakers? Share your thoughts in the comments.
