Celebrities continued to power through awards show season with purpose, donning white roses in support of the Time’s Up movement at the Grammys on Sunday.
Host James Corden, Lady Gaga, Ne-Yo, Reba McEntire and others were among the dozens of celebrities and industry notables who stepped out on the red carpet at Madison Square Garden in solidarity with victims of sexual misconduct. They made their statements by clipping the small white flower to their tuxedos and gowns. The protest came after celebrities wore black at the Golden Globes for the same purpose.
Kelly Clarkson held a long-stemmed rose in her hand as she chatted on the carpet, its white contrasting with her black gown which included elaborate gold embroidered sleeves.
The rose, Clarkson said, “represents hope and peace and sympathy and peace, and I thought those are very lovely things for any human being to encompass.”
“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” singer Cyndi Lauper, who launches a tour with Rod Stewart this summer, told E! host Ryan Seacrest that women make up 51 percent of the workforce.
“It’s about time we’re paid equally,” said Lauper, highlighting the movement’s focus on gender-based salary disparities.
The white rose plan, which sent New York City’s florists scrambling to fill hundreds of orders in the days leading up to the 60th anniversary ceremony, was organized by Meg Harkins and Karen Rait, two execs at labels Roc Nation and Interscope Records. The pair lead a group of 15 unidentified women who call themselves the Voices in Entertainment, according to Billboard.
To spread word about the show of solidarity, a letter was sent to attendees.
“Please join us in support of equal representation in the workplace, for leadership that reflects the diversity of our society, workplaces free of sexual harassment and a heightened awareness of accountability that our sisters started on January 1st and continued through the Golden Globes and onward,” the letter said.
The choice of a white rose is symbolic of “hope, peace, sympathy and resistance.”
Part of the show was also dedicated to the movement. Janelle Monáe introduced Kesha who gave an emotional performance of “Praying.” The singer was joined by Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, Andra Day, Bebe Rexha and Julia Michaels, who all wore white outfits with pinned roses.
With Reuters
