Actors who won Golden Globes for playing abusive men didn’t mention #MeToo or #TimesUp, and a psychologist weighs in

The winning women at the 2018 Golden Globes preached support, demanded equality, and urged us to listen to victims of sexual assault. But what of the winning men, specifically those who won Golden Globes for playing abusive male characters? (Take Alexander Skarsgård’s win for playing the violent Perry Wright in Big Little Lies, for example.) Where was their vocal support for the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements?

Yes, many male Globes attendees wore black and “Time’s Up” pins in support of victims of sexual abuse. This method of protest is an important form of representation for the victims these actors stand in solidarity with. But when given a platform like the Golden Globes stage, which would allow one to add a voice and public face to the protest, a much larger impact can be made than from simply a wardrobe choice.

So why did most winning men decide to stay quiet on the issue?

Doctor of Psychology and Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Dr. Danielle Forshee, provided HelloGiggles with her take.

"[The lack of vocality] is likely representative of the current atmosphere of ambivalence in the entertainment industry," Dr. Forshee stated. "This is also likely representative of the unconscious concern that remains for the male gender in the event that they are open about it."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkeiKdvYb7k?feature=oembed

Shout out to Alexander Skarsgard for winning a Golden Globe for playing an abuser and not mentioning domestic violence in his speech at all

— rebekah entralgo fernández (@rebekahentralgo) January 8, 2018

"It is possible that the male winners decided to be nonverbal about their support so that the women could have the authority and the power," Dr. Forshee continued. "On the other hand, in the event the male winners’ goal was to remain silent so the women could feel empowered, it would have been best for them to overtly acknowledge this. In doing so, it would have likely provided the women with a sense of empowerment on multiple levels rather than just one."

https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/950186402699988993

In the case of supporting women and survivors of sexual abuse and violence, words speak louder than actions. Skarsgård, Rockwell, and the other men who chose to keep mum regarding politics make us question if they are really on board with female empowerment and industry change.

Their lack of vocal protest once again puts the weight of the fight on the backs of women. In order for change to happen, all must be involved. There is no longer room for complicity.