Natalie Portman calls for action at Starry Women's Breakfast

Nothing was banned at the Power of Women lunch organized by Variety magazine in Beverly Hills on Friday, almost exactly a year after the New York Times and the New Yorker published reports of dozens of women alleging sexual misconduct committed by the great mogul of the movie Harvey Weinstein. .

Weinstein, who denied any wrongdoing, was quickly banned from the entertainment industry, which helped to give new impetus to #MeToo and Time & # 39; s Up moves.

In an exciting 15-minute speech, Portman addressed the under-representation of women in all sectors and presented guidelines to encourage change, such as donating to Time & # 39; s Up, opposing the portrayal of violence against women in films and the hiring of women for positions that are not typical. considered for. She was recognized for her humanitarian efforts as part of the creation of Time & # 39; s Up, a legal defense fund created following the rise of the #MeToo movement to address inequities in the workplace.

The award-winning actress was rewarded for her humanitarian efforts as part of the creation of Time & # 39; s Up.

"Be embarrassed if everyone at your workplace looks like you," Portman said.

Portman said Weinstein was "always free" because "our culture protects the perpetrators of sexual violence, not its victims". She added that Time & # 39; s Up Defense Fund had served more than 3,500 people, ranging from "McDonald's workers" to prison guards to the military and women of our own industry victims of gender-based harassment, coercion and aggression ".

"Our lawyers recently helped Melanie Kohler triumph over Brett Ratner and his lawyer Marty Singer … who have tried to use Brett's huge financial advantage over her to try to silence her," she said. said Portman. "Because of our lawyers … he abandoned his case of defamation."

Regina King, an honored member of the I Have a Dream Foundation, followed Portman, saying, "Man, Natalie Portman 2020".

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Portman was not the only person to have received a standing ovation on Friday. Emma Gonzalez, 18, who became a nationally recognized gun control lawyer after surviving the February 2018 shootout at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, also the Hollywood crowd on his feet.

In the name of the march for our life, Gonazelz, wiping her tears, told the women who were in the hotel's vast Ballroom Beverly Wilshire: "You know you're a force with which you have to You can and have inspired peace and understanding, and more importantly, at this time you can inspire your audience to vote, and now more than ever, women must continue to rise up. "

Gonzalez was introduced by George Clooney who announced himself as "the husband of Amal". The audience, in turn, applauded. Clooney took a more serious tone in discussing a time when fear is capitalized: "fear of Muslims, fear of immigrants, fear of minorities, fear of strong women".

"Are we really scared by everything that makes America great and if the answer is yes, then we will have a story to tell," said Clooney. "After all the jokes, insults and frenzy of reality TV, we will remember what will withstand the test of time, it is to hold responsible these wolves dressed in wolf clothes."

Everyone who spoke had a word for a cause that fascinated them. Honoree Lena Waithe, of The Trevor Project, said that Time's Up had had a huge impact on her life over the past year.

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"I became friends with so many women with whom I would probably never have met or had reason to speak, and I do not remember a time in this industry where women "We are all on the same wavelength," Waithe said. "I would have liked it not to take something so tragic to get together, I wish the trauma at the workplace and sometimes at home was not what we had in common." We happily refused to remain silent, fortunately we decided to get up and scream loudly to become a rebel force that will not be treated as citizens of the country. second class. "

The event, presented by Lifetime, along with sponsors such as Audi, Morocco Oil and The Venetian Resort, also paid tribute to Tiffany Haddish, who spoke about the non-profit society The Unusual Suspects Theater and from the CEO of Participant Media, David Linde, who contributed to the creation of films from "Roma" to "RBG."

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