Jennifer Lawrence is done being polite on the subject of the pay gap between men and women in Hollywood, writing in a new essay that higher pay for “the lucky people with dicks” needs to end.
“I’m over trying to the find the ‘adorable’ way to state my opinion and still be likable,” she wrote in a new essay for Lenny, Lena Dunham‘s feminist newsletter. “Fuck that. I don’t think I’ve ever worked for a man in charge who spent time contemplating what angle he should use to have his voice heard. It’s just heard.”
The “Hunger Games” star explained in a blunt essay titled “Why Do I Make Less Than My Male Co-Stars?” that she wasn’t angry at men in the industry when she learned she had been paid less than her male “American Hustle” co-stars — a startling fact revealed by emails leaked in the Sony hack — she was disappointed at herself for not fighting for more money.
“When the Sony hack happened and I found out how much less I was being paid than the lucky people with dicks, I didn’t get mad at Sony. I got mad at myself,” Lawrence wrote. “I failed as a negotiator because I gave up early. I didn’t want to keep fighting over millions of dollars that, frankly, due to two franchises, I don’t need.”
In fact, an email between Andrew Gumpert, president of business affairs for Columbia Pictures and Sony co-chair Amy Pascal and Doug Belgrad, president of SPE Motion Picture group, revealed that Lawrence made two points less than her male costars for the film “American Hustle.”
“Got a steve warren/gretchen rush call that it’s unfair the male actors get 9 percent in the pool and jennifer is only at 7pts,” Gumpert wrote. “You may recall Jennifer was at 5 (amy was and is at 7) and WE anted in 2 extra points for Jennifer to get her up to 7. If anyone needs to top jennifer up it’s megan [producer Megan Ellison]. BUT I think amy and Jennifer are tied so upping JL, ups AA.”
The actress says she gave up negotiating to avoid being labeled a “spoiled brat,” a reference to producer Scott Rudin‘s comments about Angelina Jolie, which were also made public during the Sony hack crisis. But Lawrence wonders if a man demanding his fair share of money would be seen in the same light.
“Jeremy Renner, Christian Bale, and Bradley Cooper all fought and succeeded in negotiating powerful deals for themselves. If anything, I’m sure they were commended for being fierce and tactical, while I was busy worrying about coming across as a brat and not getting my fair share,” she wrote.
“Again, this might have NOTHING to do with my vagina, but I wasn’t completely wrong when another leaked Sony email revealed a producer referring to a fellow lead actress in a negotiation as a ‘spoiled brat,'” she concluded. “For some reason, I just can’t picture someone saying that about a man.”
The Evolution of Jennifer Lawrence: From 'Monk' to 'Mother' (Photos)
Jennifer Lawrence's small-screen debut was this MTV "My Super Sweet 16" promo.
The future Oscar winner also had a hilarious stint on a 2006 episode of "Monk" as a mascot.
Lawrence at a 2008 Summer TCA Tour party with Bill Engvall, her TV dad on "The Bill Engvall Show."
The actress stuns in a blue gown at the 2008 Venice Film Festival premiere of "The Burning Plain."
And again in silver at the closing ceremony at the Venice Film Festival.
Jennifer opted for dark lips and an updo for "The Burning Plain" L.A. premiere (pictured with co-star Charlize Theron).
An 18-year-old Lawrence in "The Poker House."
The actress looks beautiful at a 2010 screening of "Winter's Bone," the first film to earn her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
J-Law's asymmetrical Louis Vuitton gown is positively perfect.
Lawrence looks out into a sea of photogs a the 2011 Palm Springs International Film Festival.
This simple -- but stunning -- red Calvin Klein gown landed Lawrence on plenty of Best Dressed lists.
Jennifer starred as Sam in 2011's "Like Crazy."
She played a seductive Raven (Mystique) in "X-Men: First Class."
Lawrence and her hunky "Hunger Games" co-star Liam Hemsworth attend the 2012 People's Choice Awards.
Is it just us or does Ms. Lawrence bear a striking resemblance to an Emmy?
The "Hunger Games" starlet rocked this uber-metallic Prabal Gurung gown at the film's premiere.
These "Hunger Games" co-stars look like they're having a ball at the red carpet premiere (Lawrence pictured with Josh Hutcherson).
Jennifer Lawrence in the 2010 horror-flick "House at the End of the Street."
Lawrence took the Oscar home for her role in 2012's "Silver Linings Playbook."
Lawrence in a multi-hued gown at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival for a "Silver Linings Playbook" screening.
Jennifer stands with "Silver Linings Playbook" director David O. Russell at the New York premiere.
The actress dazzled at the 2013 People's Choice Awards.
... And took home the award for Best Actress in an Action Movie for "The Hunger Games."
She donned a red gown for the red carpet at the 2013 Golden Globes.
Surprise, surprise. Lawrence took home the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actress in a Leading Role at the 2013 Screen Actors Guild Awards for "Silver Linings Playbook."
Lawrence attends the 2013 British Academy Film Awards.
Another gown, another award. Lawrence won the Oscar for the Best Actress in "Silver Linings Playbook" in this Dior Couture gown.
The epic fall that won Jennifer the heart's of everyone watching.
Lawrence ditched her bridal Dior gown for this stunning, sleek Calvin Klein number.
J-Law is a drop-dead gorgeous diva fresh off her Oscar win at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in 2013.
Katniss Everdeen and Gale Hawthorne laugh it up at the U.K. "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" in 2013.
Dior dressed the "Catching Fire" star in this gorgeous geometric, bejeweled gown.
Lawrence again in Dior at the Germany premiere of "Catching Fire."
The co-stars dazzle in Dior and Elie Saab, respectively.
Lawrence unleashed her crazy as a con artist’s histrionic wife in the critically acclaimed 2013 drama “American Hustle."
Lawrence once again embodied the complicated villainess Mystique in 2014's “X-Men: Days of Future Past.”
Following the trend of Dior gowns, the actress donned this champagne look for the LA premiere of "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1."
The actress re-teamed with "Silver Linings" co-star Bradley Cooper in "Serena," which got a limited release in February 2015.
As the face of Panem's revolution, Lawrence posed in red armor for 2015's "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2" promo.
The star looked stunning in a wine gown from Dior at the premiere of the final film in "The Hunger Games" franchise.
Lawrence reteamed with Bradley Cooper in David O. Russell's 2015 comic drama "Joy," the story of a woman who rises to become the matriarch of a powerful family business dynasty.
J-Law stars alongside Chris Pratt in the sci-fi drama "Passengers," released in theaters Dec., 2016
Later in 2016, Lawrence was the subject of four special Vogue covers for the magazine's Sep. issues.
After the white supremacist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, J-Law calls out demonstrators on her Facebook page.
Lawrence's "Mother!," written and directed by Darrem Aronofsky, hits theaters Sep. 15, 2016
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A look back at the Oscar-winning actress’ rise to Hollywood stardom
Jennifer Lawrence's small-screen debut was this MTV "My Super Sweet 16" promo.
