Why the HFPA President Wore Red to #WhyWeWearBlack Golden Globes
Most of Hollywood wore head-to-toe black for the 75th Golden Globes, but Meher Tatna went bright
Beatrice Verhoeven | January 7, 2018 @ 6:10 PM
Most of Hollywood wore head-to-toe black to the Golden Globes on Sunday, but Meher Tatna, the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, donned red.
Tatna wore a bright red ensemble to the red carpet and during her speech at the ceremony, although actresses at this year’s event pledged they would be wearing head-to-toe black to protest sexual assault, abuse and harassment in Hollywood, and to support those who have spoken out about these issues.
According to an individual with knowledge, “while the president [of the HFPA] stands with and supports Time’s Up, she wore the dress that she chose with her mother. As part of her Indian culture, it’s customary to wear a festive color during a celebration — in this case being the 75th anniversary.” According to S. Mitra Kalita, VP of Programming at CNN, Tatna “was born in India where this red IS our basic black.”
Also Read: Golden Globes Fashion Explained: Why Is Everybody Wearing Black?
The decision to wear black comes after heavyweights like Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Dustin Hoffman, Louis C.K., Morgan Spurlock, and many more of have been accused of sexual misconduct.
Ryan Seacrest, Kelly Clarkson, Allison Janney, Finn Wolfhard, Rachel Brosnahan, Meryl Streep, Michelle Williams and more donned the color on the carpet. Well, pretty much everyone wore black, except for Tatna and actress Blanca Blanco, who donned a spiffy red dress as well.
Also Read: Eva Longoria Also Calls Out E! for Unequal Pay on Golden Globes Red Carpet
Along with the black outfits, people were wearing pins created by Time’s Up, the coalition behind the statement of wearing all black. Around 300 women in the industry, including Reese Witherspoon, Gal Gadot and Shonda Rhimes, stood by the initiative. Kerry Washington told the Los Angeles Times that the alliance was discussing to boycott the Golden Globes but eventually decided against it to support the nominated peers. Then, the decision was made to wear all black.
“Wearing black is an opportunity to talk about all the other things that we’re doing,” Washington told the Times. “We’re saying that we are three-dimensional, fully realized human beings as women. We are participants in this entertainment industry, and we have something to say.”
Representatives for the HFPA and Tatna have not yet responded to TheWrap’s request for comment.
Golden Globes Red Carpet: Wisest Words on #MeToo Movement From Meryl Streep to Emma Watson (Photos)
“A revolution is taking place”
Debra Messing
"I am wearing black to thank and honor all the brave whistleblowers who came forward and shared their stories of harassment and discrimination," Messing said on Sunday's Golden Globes red carpet. She added that she's "shocked to to hear E! doesn’t believe in paying their female hosts the same as their male hosts," referring to Catt Sadler's exit from the network after learning she wasn't paid as much as her male counterpart, Jason Kennedy. "Women are just as important as men," she said.
“A revolution is taking place”
Laura Dern
The "Big Little Lies" actress said on Instagram that she is "holding our mothers and grandmothers and all brave women who taught us about Voice" by wearing black on the red carpet. On the carpet, she added, "It’s time for us to make a difference, and everyone can make a difference." Dern brought along activist Monica Ramirez, who said, "When we learned about what was happening in Hollywood, our members felt very strongly they wanted to send a message… that they are not alone... Part of our work is to fight for gender parity along all lines."
“A revolution is taking place”
Emma Watson
The "Beauty and the Beast" star said on Twitter that she's wearing black on the red carpet "because we are grateful to the many survivors and allies who have spoken out and and forced the conversation about sexual harassment, sexual assault, and gender bias in the spotlight."
Larasi, a women's activist, accompanied Emma Watson on the red carpet. "There’s something about women in Hollywood speaking out," she said of the Me Too movement. "There is a wall of silence that surrounds women and girls [who are harassed or assaulted]. We don’t want to create hierarchies.. But we’re saying women in Hollywood have [an opportunity] to amplify [the message]. It's a fantastic platform."
“A revolution is taking place”
Jessica Chastain
The "Molly's Game" star said, "I wear black to stand in solidarity with my sister's and to say it's #TimesUp on this imbalance of power IN ALL INDUSTRIES " on Twitter ahead of the show.
“A revolution is taking place”
Meryl Streep
"The Post" star said, "People are aware now of a power imbalance... It's everywhere and we want to fix that."
As for her character in the film, Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham, Streep said she thought she would be "heartened" by the movement sweeping Hollywood and beyond for women's rights. "She was a pioneer," Streep said. "I think she’d be over the moon."
“A revolution is taking place”
Yvonne Strahovski
"With the women's march and now this, it really feels like a revolution is taking place. Although it's not going to solve all the problems, I'm proud to be here and to be part of it today," said the "Handmaid's Tale" star.
“A revolution is taking place”
Kerry Washington
"This is such an awesome night to celebrate women and celebrate all of us coming together and standing with each other and standing in solidarity to say 'Time is Up,'" the "Scandal" star said. "This is not a problem in Hollywood, the abuse of power happens everywhere."
“A revolution is taking place”
Billie Jean King
"We’re in solidarity about standing up for people who have been abused and have been harassed, and the industry is all staying together on this," said the tennis star, who accompanied Emma Stone on the red carpet.
“A revolution is taking place”
Chrissy Metz
Before the red carpet, Metz said she told her publicist "If I can't be who I am I can't do this." On the carpet, she told Ryan Seacrest "We are all meant for something bigger better greater, but we’re not always taught that."
“A revolution is taking place”
Alison Brie
Brie is nominated for her role in Netflix's "GLOW," but also acted alongside Meryl Streep in "The Post." She said, "Meryl Streep playing Katharine Graham was like feminism on feminism."
"It’s important to me to stand with all of the women who have come forward," Brie added, wearing a black ensemble in honor of Time's Up and the #MeToo movement. She added that's she's "so in awe of that bravery" of the women who have come forward with stories of sexual harassment and assault, and said, "It’s important for me to stand with those who don’t feel like they have a voice."
“A revolution is taking place”
Sarah Jessica Parker
"I think it’s an enormous show of support tonight," said the "Divorce" star, who wore a black frock in honor of the Time's Up initiative. "This is a conversation that, as complicated as it is, it seems to be very welcome by everybody," she said to E!'s Ryan Seacrest. "I know it’s affected your network," she added in reference to Catt Sadler, who left E! after learning she earned far less than her male colleague. Parker went on to say that parity and gender equality shouldn't be overly complicated. "It’s about women in all industries, and men," she said.
“A revolution is taking place”
Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria joined Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman in talking to Ryan Seacrest about the Time's Up initiative. Like Parker and Messing, Longoria called out E! for paying Catt Sadler less than her male colleague Jason Kennedy. "We support gender parity and equal pay, and we hope E! stands with that," she said to Seacrest.