Rose McGowan has gone from the actress we remember in movies from Scream and Planet Terror and the hit television show “Charmed” to the point her directorial debut, Dawn, was just released on her official YouTube channel (you can watch it below). However, she is making headlines today as she reported on Twitter she was fired by her agents, Sheila Wenzel and Steve Muller at Innovative Artists, after speaking out against Hollywood sexism concerning a casting note on an upcoming Adam Sandler film.
It all began June 17 when McGowan tweeted the offending note that accompanied a script she received reading: “Notes: – Please make sure to read the attached script before coming in so you understand the context of the scenes. – Wardrobe Note: Black (or dark) form fitting tank that shows off cleavage (push up bras encouraged). And form fitting leggings or jeans. Nothing white.”
Now, eight days later, McGowan tweets, “I just got fired by my wussy acting agent because I spoke up about the bullshit in Hollywood. Hahaha. #douchebags #awesome #BRINGIT” I don’t think we’ve heard the end of this, nor should we.
Employers in nearly any other industry would be fired and ripped to shreds in the media if a job posting included the notes McGowan brought to light and yet, she’s the one that gets fired? As bad as it may sound, her getting fired may actually be the best thing that could have happened in this situation as it shines an even brighter light on the problem and I would hate to be either Sheila Wenzel, Steve Muller or anyone at Innovative Artists at this point, but at the same time I would like to see even more female actors step up and bring instances such as this to light. I don’t think any of us needs to have sat in on a Hollywood audition to believe this isn’t the first, nor the last time, something like this is going to happen.
Impressively showing no signs of backing down, I don’t expect to see McGowan deleting her tweets or hiding as she also chose to speak out to Defamer saying, “I’m stepping up because no one else is. There are some, they’re starting to get louder, but I realized as an artist you’re in an un-fireable position. And actually we all are. All of us humans cannot be fired from being ourselves. We can be fired from our jobs, we can not be hired for a job, but we can’t be fired. We’re us. And we’re legion. And it’s an amazing feeling and an amazing, empowered feeling.”
McGowan also spoke with EW about the casting note saying, “I’m not trying to vilify Adam Sandler. Although someone did tell me that when he did his Netflix deal, he said, ‘I signed with Netflix because it rhymes with Wet Chicks.’ I mean, what? What in the f-k is going on? No!”
Hopefully more will stand up with McGowan and realize there is strength in numbers. Just below is an interview with McGowan from “The Guardian” as well as her directorial debut, Dawn.
