Former Rare Staff
Actresses Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer found a way to even out the pay gap between them on a new project.
Videos by Rare
Jada Pinkett Smith told an audience of how Chastain and Spencer teamed up to raise Spencer’s pay. According to Smith, the pair went to negotiate their salaries together. If the project wanted Chastain, they argued, Spencer would need a higher offer.
Prime example of sister solidarity between @jes_chastain and @octaviaspencer
📽: @MzSpectacular4u pic.twitter.com/amAl1njQFP— Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapsmith) January 22, 2018
Smith said that it was nice to march and wear black to award shows, but asked what was “being done behind closed doors.”
“I have to give my sister Jessica Chastain her props,” she said, encouraging others to follow the example.
Spencer said that she was “eternally grateful” that Chastain stood with her.
@akstanwyck this is correct except I should clarify that I am making 5x my salary bc Jessica stood with me. I don’t know what or if it cost her anything as far as her rate, I just know she stood with me, and am eternally grateful. https://t.co/JH8QRUIVJc
— octavia spencer (@octaviaspencer) January 24, 2018
Chastain argued that male costars should do the same with female costars.
She had been underpaid for so long. When I discovered that , I realized that I could tie her deal to mine to bring up her quote. Men should start doing this with their female costars.
— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) January 24, 2018
The story was heard ’round the internet.
So it seems that @jes_chastain and @octaviaspencer went to Universal and negotiated together and got more money as a unit. Fantastic. #TimesUp https://t.co/uBhqkRjKWx
— Melissa Silverstein (@melsil) January 24, 2018
Actions are so much more powerful than words, and you have demonstrated again and again that you intend to not just speak about change, but make that change. Thank you.
— JT (@themightyscribe) January 24, 2018
There are a lot of mouths in Hollywood, but from what I’ve seen, Jessica Chastain is about that action. https://t.co/ScJ72lxnp3
— Theolinda Bonner (@MZGunter) January 25, 2018
this is how you use your white privilege https://t.co/4pwgLxDMOR
— valerie (@adriftallmylife) January 25, 2018
Good on Jessica Chastain. And seriously, watch the clip at the bottom with Octavia Spencer telling the story. ALSO I AM SEEING THIS MOVIE. https://t.co/bp6drEiF2z
— Lily Herman (@lkherman) January 25, 2018
(H/T Twitter)
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