If a television show that stars two women, was co-created by a woman and is produced by one of the most forward-thinking companies in the industry still can’t get it together regarding the wage gap, then it’s no wonder the rest of Hollywood—and the world—is a disaster.
Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin who star in Netflix’s Grace and Frankie, and also serve as executive producers for the series, have publicly complained about Netflix’s pay discrimination after learning that Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston—who play supporting roles in the series—earn the same amount of money as they do. Via The Hollywood Reporter:
“[Tomlin] found out [Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen] are getting the same salary that we are,” Fonda said at a recent Netflix press conference. “That doesn’t make us happy.”
If you’ve seen the show, admittedly, Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston play very heavy supporting roles, but they’re secondary, nonetheless. The proof is literally right there in the title, as Tomlin points out:
“No,” Tomlin added. “The show is not Sol and Robert — it’s Grace and Frankie.”
The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Netflix for comment, but there’s no word yet. I really can’t wait to hear what reductive excuse they’ll use to explain this, if they respond at all. The real truth would simply be admitting, “Oh, we just value men more then women,” but I imagine their justification might have something to do with the “star power” of the male leads.
That, of course, would still be ridiculous. You can’t tell me that Martin Sheen is so much bigger of a star than Jane Motherfucking Fonda that paying a supporting actor the same as a lead makes any damn sense in this case.
Fans of Grace and Frankie are trying to convince Netflix to settle this issue through a petition demanding that they fix the pay disparity. This is where we are, folks. In the year 2015, a bunch of fans—over 7,700—actually have to beg Hollywood to treat women like equals.
Get you shit together, Netflix.
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Image via Netflix.
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