Hollywood Throws Itself Under The Bus In Yet Another Glorious Display Of Hypocrisy

Mark Wahlberg was trending last night.

“Oh crap,” I thought. Another sexual harassment scandal.

Nope. Not this time. This “scandal” involved a sizable “gender wage gap,” and now everyone is ticked at Mark Wahlberg.

It all started with these tweets.

On the day after display of female power at the #goldenglobes, I learned that there was an egregious pay gap between Michelle Williams and Mark Wahlberg for the All the Money in the World reshoot. Did they think this wouldn't come out? Unacceptable #TimesUp

— Melissa Silverstein (@melsil) January 9, 2018

I started this last night and now it has been confirmed by others. Michelle Williams paid under 1,000 and Mark Wahlberg paid 1.5m. Williams was told they were all donating their time for the reshoots. THIS IS AN EGREGIOUS GENDER PAY GAP. #paymichelle https://t.co/edORyoNkgf https://t.co/red4f2LQF4

— Melissa Silverstein (@melsil) January 10, 2018

It's gross that technically she wasn't even getting paid; the $1000 was her per diem, which I assume he negotiated separately above and beyond his fee. And then there's the lovely @MrJonCryer who DONATES HIS FEE from the @Undisclosedpod to causes suggested by listeners.

— Jen Frankel (@jenfrankel) January 10, 2018

she was told everyone was working for free. per diem is separate. But he was a dick and so in order to get it done they gave him the money and they expected her to just live with it. No More Silence on these issues. #timesup

— Melissa Silverstein (@melsil) January 10, 2018

Michelle Williams said in a red carpet interview that she waived her fee for the reshoots in the circumstances.

— Sara Orritt (@saraorritt) January 9, 2018

But did Mark Wahlberg? And did she do it because she assumed they both had done it? This needs way more answers.

— Melissa Silverstein (@melsil) January 9, 2018

Here are the details, via USA Today.

Mark Wahlberg was paid $1.5 million for reshooting his scenes in All the Money in the World, three people familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly about it tell USA TODAY, while Michelle Williams was paid an $80 per diem totaling less than $1,000.

That works out to Williams being paid less than 1% of her male co-star.

Ridley Scott’s Getty kidnapping drama was hastily reshot the week of Thanksgiving after a cascade of sexual misconduct allegations were made public against Kevin Spacey, who previously starred in the drama as billionaire J. Paul Getty.

Scott transfixed the film world by quickly assembling his actors over the holiday break in Europe, reshooting Spacey’s scenes with Christopher Plummer — and still making his Christmas release window.

This reminds me of the sexual assault scandals in Hollywood. All those years, Hollywood elites lectured US for being giant sexist a-holes, but THEY were living in that environment and enabling that behavior all along. It’s the same thing in this case. Hollywood elites are the FIRST to scream about how businesses are sexist and not paying men and women the same, but THEY ARE LIVING IT. Hollywood is doing that. It’s yet another incredible display of hypocrisy.

But new information reveals ugly math behind the Hollywood victory. The reshoot cost $10 million (a fee put up by producing arm Imperative). In December, Scott told USA TODAY that the undertaking was aided by the fact that “everyone did it for nothing.”

The exchange went as follows:

RIDLEY SCOTT: “The whole reshoot was — in normal terms was expensive but not as expensive as you think. Because all of them, everyone did it for nothing.”

USA TODAY: “Really?”

SCOTT: “No, I wouldn’t get paid, I refused to get paid.”

USA TODAY: “You didn’t pay the actors more to do it?”

SCOTT: “No, they all came in free. Christopher had to get paid. But Michelle, no. Me, no. I wouldn’t do that to — ”

USA TODAY: “The crew, of course, did get paid?”

SCOTT: “Of course. “

USA TODAY has since learned Wahlberg’s team actually negotiated a hefty fee, with the actor paid $1.5 million for his reshoots. Williams wasn’t told.

I mean, it sucks for her, but maybe she should get better people to negotiate on her behalf? And maybe liberal directors shouldn’t lie to actors and actresses? Just an idea.

This doesn’t prove that we live in a giant sexist society that thrives off a gender wage gap. This proves that Hollywood is filled with slimy hypocrites who have no room to preach to us about anything.

This is shameful. And both Wahlberg and Williams are repped by the same agency: WME….Exclusive: Wahlberg paid $1.5M for 'All the Money' reshoot, Williams got less than $1,000 https://t.co/Ig59pht7M8

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) January 10, 2018

This is so messed up that it is almost hard to believe. Almost. This is how this business works. I wonder if the studio or Wahlberg will do something to make the situation less insane. https://t.co/RsunBlOeCk

— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) January 10, 2018

Agencies have to stop being complicit in the underpayment of their clients.

— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) January 10, 2018

There needs to be new language voiding deals made unless all people participate in the favored nations structure

— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) January 10, 2018

This should include hidden perks like points and back end and credits.

— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) January 10, 2018

Id’ also like to state the obvious. Mark Wahlberg is a big time actor. Like A-list material. I’ve never heard of Michelle Williams, and neither have a lot of other people. Just saying.

Actors are not paid the same! So much goes into coming up with pay. Experience, box office, fans, difficulty of role, nominations, etc

— Haley Lynne (@MsHaleyLynne87) January 9, 2018

Think Mark Wahlberg is more worthy that Michelle Williams? In what universe?

— Melissa Silverstein (@melsil) January 9, 2018

Interesting. I wonder if Michelle's situation was considered different because she was under contract/in middle of shooting Sony's Venom, so she was already being paid for those days. But I dunno. Shitty if true, though Wahlberg's quote is generally higher anyway…

— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) January 9, 2018

Are you guys serious? I can't stand Mark Wahlberg as an actor, but if you are making the argument that Michelle Williams is as big a draw card as him, due to her winning Oscar's, that is just absurd! It isn't about gender or talent, like it or not, he is worth more.

— Sarah Greenhill (@SaraGreenhill) January 10, 2018

That’s what I’m getting at…

Yep, exactly, and that isn't an anomaly, it isn't an argument about her talent or gender, it is purely that Mark gets paid more, as his movies make more money, simple really!

— Sarah Greenhill (@SaraGreenhill) January 10, 2018

But then there’s this:

According to Sony itself, Michelle Williams is the film's lead actress; Mark Wahlberg is a supporting actor. And the same agency, William Morris, represents both of them. Not good.

— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) January 10, 2018

I don’t know…

Her lifetime movie gross: $793,353,260

His lifetime movie gross: $2,896,717,611

Yep, she definitely “deserves” to make as much as he does, cuz vagina.

— Leah the Boss (@LeahRBoss) January 10, 2018

Well that is not what I was told. His spokesperson would not respond to my inquiry.

— Melissa Silverstein (@melsil) January 9, 2018

1. Her “male co-star” was Mark Wahlberg (a Hollywood A-list actor)
2. I have never heard of Michelle Williams in my life
3. Who forced her to accept a $1000? https://t.co/3JyywleWrw pic.twitter.com/2MPvGIfY7s

— Harry Khachatrian (@Harry1T6) January 10, 2018

Mark Wahlberg a well-known actor making more money than someone I didn't even know existed till now? oh, the horror!

— 🏰👸🏽💍Femme Fatale💍👸🏽🏰 (@AnastasiaGRose) January 10, 2018

I wouldn't call it sexism that Michelle Williams only got paid $1000.00 and Mark Wahlberg got paid 1 million for reshoots in All the Money in the World. I'd say that actress is desperate and dumb and needs a new agent! 😆

— Mark Dice (@MarkDice) January 10, 2018

That’s what most people seem to believe.

For me, this only proves one thing: Hollywood’s hypocrisy.

What say you?