The Variety Power of Women event celebrates the philanthropic efforts of those in the entertainment industry, with causes ranging from the education of at-risk youth to humanitarian assistance for children in developing countries. But with the Harvey Weinstein scandal still ongoing, there was a more charged atmosphere on Friday at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
The urgency was palpable as Gwyneth Paltrow, who this week accused Weinstein of sexually harassing her early in her career, took the stage and said how honoured she was to feel the support of everyone in the industry this week, and as Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot told the crowd of some 500 entertainment industry professions that her director Patty Jenkins “represents everything that is good in Hollywood.”
Few were as blunt as host Judd Apatow, however, who wasted no time both celebrating The New York Times journalists who cracked open the story of Weinstein’s alleged decades of sexual harassment and assault and taking jabs at the suggestion that The Weinstein Co should remain in business.
“People say, ‘What will become of Harvey Weinstein’s company?’ To which I reply: ‘Who gives a [expletive]?’ Shut it down,” Apatow said. “And what about his staff? People say, ‘Did they know?’ Of course they knew.”
Apatow, who has been one of Hollywood’s most vocal on the subject, applauded the women who came forward to tell their stories and “end this nightmare.”
Apatow also got some digs in at James Cameron for criticising the film Wonder Woman, and Bill Cosby.
Cameron, Apatow said, “Is a little jealous that Wonder Woman was a huge hit. His ego got a little hurt because people weren’t talking about his movie from 1991... He says he’s pro women, but you don’t really show this by being critical of someone else’s movie.”
