Kristen Stewart Expresses Fury Over The Film Industry's Backsliding for Women
The renowned actress and filmmaker has stated she is “furious” that advancements for women in Hollywood have gone backwards after a short-lived surge of improvement following the MeToo movement.
Stewart, who directed the upcoming film her latest project, delivered an emotional speech at a women’s luncheon in Los Angeles hosted by the Academy behind the awards.
“The backsliding from a brief moment of advancement is alarming by the numbers,” she informed attendees. “Such a pitiful number of films from the previous year have been directed by female filmmakers.”
An annual report that tracks the numbers of female filmmakers stated that 11 of the highest-grossing films of 2024 were directed by women, a decrease from sixteen in 2020.
‘Boys’ Club Business Model’
During her speech, Stewart said: “In a post-MeToo moment, it appeared likely that stories created by and for females were finally getting their due. That we could be permitted or even supported to share our views and our shared experiences, all of our experiences unfiltered.
“However, I can confirm to the intense struggle that it takes every step when the material is too grim, too taboo, when the honesty with which it presents insights about experiences commonly faced by females, frequently provokes aversion and dismissal.”
She continued: “We can discuss wage gaps and menstrual product taxes and quantify the imbalance in many measurable forms. But the violence of silencing, it’s like we’re not allowed to feel rage. But I could devour this stand with a fork and [expletive] knife. I’m so angry.”
The guests hearing Stewart’s speech included a number of well-known female stars.
Stewart was met with several rounds of applause over the course of her seven-minute speech.
“I am thankful to you,” she stated. “I do not thank a boys’ club business model that claims to desire to hang out with us while siphoning our resources and belittling our true perspectives. Let’s try and not be tokenised. Let’s start printing our own currency.”
New films from several female directors are among those for the forthcoming Oscars race, but the top directing award is anticipated again to be dominated by men.
