Golden Globes 2018: Emma Watson among eight actresses to bring gender activists as guests amid Hollywood sexual harassment protest

Emma Watson is among eight actresses to bring gender activists as their guests to the Golden Globes
Getty Images
Ella Wills7 January 2018

Meryl Streep and Emma Watson are among eight actresses to bring gender and racial justice activists as their guests to the Golden Globes, including MeToo founder Tarana Burke.

Ai-jen Poo, the director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, will attend with Ms Streep, while Ms Watson will bring Marai Larasi, the executive director of Imkaan, a Black-feminist organisation, according to the Washington Post.

The actresses and activists said on Sunday that their hope in walking the red carpet is to shift the focus back on survivors and solutions, and away from perpetrators of sexual misconduct.

The 75th annual awards ceremony will be broadcast live from Beverley Hills at 8pm Eastern Time (1am GMT).

Several high-profile actresses are also expected to wear black in protest of sexual harassment scandals that have rocked Hollywood ever since an avalanche of allegations toppled Harvey Weinstein.

Meryl Streep will also walk the red carpet alongside an activist guest 
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Ms Poehler’s guest is Saru Jayaraman, president of Restaurant Opportunities Centres, while Susan Sarandon is bringing Rosa Clemente, a political commentator.

And nominee Emma Stone is taking tennis champion and advocate Billie Jean King, who the actress portrayed in the film "Battle of the Sexes."

In a statement on Sunday, the advocates said they were inspired by the Time's Up initiative, which was launched on Monday with the backing of hundreds of Hollywood women, including Ms Streep and Reese Witherspoon.

Announced in a full-page open letter in the New York Time and La Opinion on New Year’s Day, the initiative aims to unify all women working in the entertainment industry.

"Each of us will be highlighting legislative, community-level and interpersonal solutions that contribute to ending violence against women in all our communities," the advocates' said on Sunday.

"It is our hope that in doing so, we will also help to broaden conversations about the connection to power, privilege and other systemic inequalities."

"We want to encourage all women - from those who live in the shadows to those who live in the spotlight, from all walks of life, and across generations - to continue to step forward and know that they will be supported when they do," the statement continued.

Many attending the Golden Globes will also be wearing black to protest sexual harassment.

Mark Ruffalo tweeted Sunday that he would also be wearing black "in solidarity with the men and women asking for respect and equality."

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