[ad_1]
Time’s Up has disbanded an advisory board that included several prominent Hollywood actors, including Jessica Chastain and Reese Witherspoon, as the organization continues to grapple with an existential crisis.
The rights group – formed with much fanfare just three years ago at the height of the #MeToo movement – has been deeply affected by its mismanagement of harassment allegations against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Time’s Up announced on Saturday that its board will step down within the next 30 days and that a new board will be chosen to oversee the group. Only four of the 22 board members were to stay on for a transition period.
Time’s Up also had a 71-member advisory board, which included a wide range of activists and Hollywood stars. In addition to Chastain and Witherspoon, board members included Natalie Portman, Janelle Monae, Brie Larson, Tessa Thompson, Padma Lakshmi, Laura Dern, America Ferrera, Kerry Washington, Tarana Burke, Alyssa Milano, Gretchen Carlson, Amy Schumer and Julianne Moore.
Nina Shaw, co-founder of Time’s Up, informed members by email Sunday morning that the advisory board – officially called the Global Leadership Board – had been dissolved.
“This advises you that effective today, Time’s Up has dissolved the Global Leadership Board,” she wrote. “There is no need for your individual resignations, because the group no longer exists.”
Shaw sent members a follow-up email later that evening apologizing for the “rushed communication” and acknowledging that “the bluntness took many of you by surprise.”
“The goal behind a rapid dissolution of the GLB was to protect you all from unfair scrutiny,” she wrote. “We didn’t think it was possible to have a meeting with the whole GLB before the decision, but we also realize that a lot of nuance has been lost in the communication. “
Shaw added that Time’s Up plans to rebuild, “hopefully with the help of several of its founders and stakeholders.”
“You have all given your time, energy, heart and resources to build this organization, and your voices are crucial as Time’s Up begins its next chapter,” she wrote.
According to a source familiar with the matter, some members were under pressure to withdraw. Others feared their names would appear in unflattering stories about the organization.
“I think it was an effort to protect the people who put a lot of time and energy into the cause from unfair criticism,” said a former member. “Ninety-nine point nine percent of the members of Time’s Up were not involved in the Cuomo scandal, especially the Hollywood contingent.
This person also pointed out that many of the people on the list haven’t been actively involved with Time’s Up in years, and the new CEO will likely want to rebuild the organization from the ground up.
Time’s Up has been in free fall since the release of the New York Attorney General’s report on the allegations against Cuomo in early August. The report showed that Time’s Up executives had collaborated with the Cuomo administration on how it should respond. Subsequent reports also showed CEO Tina Tchen blocked the release of a statement supporting Lindsey Boylan, Cuomo’s original accuser, and suggested she was not a credible source.
Tchen resigned on August 26. Monifa Bandele has been appointed interim CEO and has been tasked with carrying out “a comprehensive assessment of the organization”.
Kate Aurthur contributed to this report.
[ad_2]
Source link