What is it about beautiful, opinionated women that makes all of Hollywood (especially the media) want to scream? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, it’s not like berating women for speaking up is a new practice. If memory serves me correctly, both Jane Fonda and Barbra Streisand got handed a very large can of whooping ass for expressing their personal and political opinions. In Hollywood, you can be a do good political persona ala Angelina Jolie, but having an opinion that might call Hollywood on the carpet, that’s a no no.
The person in the center of the current “everyone in Hollywood hates me” storm is Katherine Heigl star of Grey’s Anatomy and 27 Dresses. You might recall that earlier this year she had the gaul to say that Knocked Up was sexist (which it was), and for that honesty she was labeled as ungrateful and her film career was declared dead. It’s a good thing her fans didn’t get that message because the gross of 27 Dresses was $76 million in the US and almost $160 million worldwide.
Recently, she had the nerve to decline to submit herself for Emmy consideration and publicly mentioned that she felt her storyline this past season was unworthy of recognition (another truth.)
Everyone pounced calling her ungrateful (again) and adding that she wants out of her TV contract to make movies. Rumors surfaced (everywhere) that the writers and producers were upset and that the set was full of tension. Many a site began the Izzie death watch. The venom that was displayed was way over the top. People didn’t just want her to get fired (for giving an opinion no less), but they wanted her character to die. That’s the lesson a woman gets for speaking out about something that honestly is not really important at all — an Emmy award nomination — yet people want to punish her in such a profound way. Extrapolating this into real life, if a woman gets punished for speaking out about something as trivial as an award nomination, imagine the message the rest of us get about speaking out about issues like equal pay, choice, rape…you get the picture. The message is to shut up and take what you got and don’t make waves cause you will be punished. Sound familiar?
It took a while but finally one of her co-stars Chandra Wilson (Dr. Bailey) found her voice and explained to us lay people about the Emmy nomination process. You really need have had a spectacular episode to submit. Some years you have one, some you don’t, and if you don’t you shouldn’t bother submitting.
I didn’t find another person in print defending Heigl until I read Mark Harris’ column in EW. Harris is the author of the critically acclaimed Pictures at a Revolution. I meant to give him some props for his earlier column that took it to the Hollywood suits for their pathetic realization that women do go to the movies after the success of Sex and the City. Please check out the story: Hollywood ‘Shocker’: Women Go To Movies.
But his defense of Heigl and women in Hollywood is fantastic. I’m still shocked that there are so few people willing to stand up for this woman? Where are the other Hollywood actresses?
Could there be a worse career move for an actress than telling the truth?Little has changed, except the coarseness with which celebrities can now be discussed — and the rules actresses must obey. Among them: Have a ”positive body image,” but also a killer body. Stay within the two-pound weight range that will not reveal you as either anorexic or a pig. Age gracefully, but never get older. Don’t have wrinkles, but don’t use Botox. Be modest, but when you win an award, weep as if a gold statuette is a personalized gift from heaven. If you get pregnant, be prepared to let a dozen news outlets act as your ob-gyn. Express concern about your carbon footprint, but don’t be ”political.” Talk about how living a normal life is important to you, but smile while every aspect of it is scrutinized.
I like Heigl because there seems to be a person in there, one who occasionally says things that people can’t stand. (And really, if she’d said, ”Actually, I do think my material should get me an Emmy nomination,” would that sound better?) I like the fact that she busted Isaiah Washington for homophobia when everyone behind the scenes at Grey’s Anatomy was busy staring into space. I like the fact that she gently tweaked Judd Apatow for the slight gender imbalance in Knocked Up. I like the fact that her first thought after winning an Emmy wasn’t ”How can I get another one?” And I like the fact that her mouth — which is not even slightly ugly — is connected to her brain. Katherine Heigl’s ‘Grey’ Matter: What’s the Problem? (EW)
The treatment of Katherine Heigl should be a lesson to all women, and not just in Hollywood. We need to stand up and support each other.
Update: Found this story written about the situation AFTER I posted my piece. Interesting.
What’s wrong with Heigl speaking out? (AP via MSNBC)
At first I was one of those people who thought she was being ungrateful.
But I realize that she is being punished for speaking her mind, for being a woman with an opinion. Even though I still think her comments were in poor taste, the public reaction is hateful and sexist.
I never thought she was ungrateful. I found her honesty refreshing for an actress in Hollywood.
I like her. I am so annoyed by all this sexist media shitstorm swirling around her.
Personally, I didn’t much care either way when Heigl made her statement; I began reading about her when the brouhaha started up. Unlike a great number of people out there, I chose not to judge until I had read what she had to say and, after that, I felt she did the right thing. If she did not feel that her storyline warranted a nomination, then good for her for opening it up for another fabulous actress to get in there. I could not understand why everyone was pitching a fit over her decision/comments let alone why people wanted “Izzie” to die.
As a woman in film school, it terrifies me how ignorant the men running the studios are of their female audience and how unwilling they are to realize that WE ARE OUT THERE and WE SPEND MONEY TOO! All of these men have mothers, and a fair majority have sisters, wives, and daughters, so I do not understand the ignorance and their blindness to the fact that we have brains. Women have come so far, but still have so very far to go.
I also find her honesty about these things refreshing. It’s nice for a change to see someone so honest about the things they see in Hollywood. But FSM forbid that a woman have an actual opinion or criticize something that she should be grateful for. Stupid ungrateful woman has no idea that she would be nothing w/o the menz handing her these fantastic opportunities.
wev.
Thanks for this!
Congratulations Ms. Heigl on your intelligence and assertiveness. However, its your people skills that will make or break your career. So far, not so good.
@ chantal:
please do explain how Ms. Heigl doesn’t have any “people skills.” I don’t see her bar-hopping at nighttime or begging to be followed by the paparrazi like Paris or La Lohan.
I think there are definitely two ways to look at an issue. I mean, none of us know her personally, so we can’t just say she was standing up for the greater good of women. Yes, it would be nice to believe that she ripped Apatow for “Knocked Up” being misogynistic, but she should’ve known that after she read the script, but instead of withdrawing from the project, she did it, took her money, then made a complaint. How s that supposed to look to someone with any amount of common sense?
Heigl has also done racy photo shoots in Maxim that I doubt helped the feminist movement much. I doubt many guys were reading the articles. If a shirtless Matthew McConaghuey was the voice of humanitarianism throughout the world, I’d equally laugh at him as well. No one wants to hear millionaires tell us how to behave!
It’s easy to say things, then act differently. I am a male feminist, and believe that the best way to true equality is done through action, not words. Heigl dropped the ball with “Knocked Up”. Now she wants us to believe that she had misgivings about the movie? She is trying to save face so that she can get serious acting roles after playing that part to cash in.
I’m sorry, but if hypocrites like Heigl are the voice and face of feminism, there are problems. She is free to say what she likes, but we’re all free to call her a liar.
Yes, it would be nice to believe that she ripped Apatow for “Knocked Up” being misogynistic, but she should’ve known that after she read the script, but instead of withdrawing from the project, she did it, took her money, then made a complaint. How s that supposed to look to someone with any amount of common sense?
The script changed after she signed on to the role. Also, you don’t know what was filmed and left on the cutting room floor.
And Heigl’s Maxim shots are neither here nor there.
What’s disheartening is that, while women like Heigl are groomed for stardom, they aren’t groomed for a career. Her co-star Seth Rogen–who I like a lot, so I’m not slamming him–is producing AND more importantly writing the projects he’s in.
Heigl understands that a career built on thin work isn’t a career. In fact, the reaction to her comments only reaffirm that understanding.
Remember, Katherine Hepburn was called “Box Office Poison” for being outspoken and difficult. Hepburn went on to star in roughly 20 more films and to win 3 Oscars.
I totally agree that Heigl got a very raw deal on the Knocked Up comments. People were literally saying “Who the hell is she to criticize the creators of that?” It demonstrated that lots of men don’t think of actresses as talented professionals, just attractive women put in front of a camera and told what to do.
On the Grey’s Anatomy comments, I’m less certain. Given what she had already gone through, it was virtually certain how they’d be received. Even if she didn’t mean to insult the writers, it was going to be seen that way.
As far as not submitting a tape for consideration unless you have something good, I have my doubts. If you look at the list of submissions, there are a LOT of them. Now, maybe if you know you don’t have a chance, it doesn’t hurt to submit it anyway, so no harm, no foul. And Heigl is a past winner, and they tend to hit familiar territory. But this isn’t Candice Bergen or Bill Cosby dropping out after winning 4 times.
I’ll be honest, my cynical side does lean towards the “trying to get off the show” thesis. It just seems like the simplest explanation. Still, we certainly don’t know that it’s the case. And you’re right that the reaction to it has been over-the-top.
I hope Katherine Heigl continues to give her opinion when she thinks it’s important. I also hope for her sake that she realizes that sometimes you can be too honest for your own good. And that she cuts down on the cigarettes.
What’s disheartening is that, while women like Heigl are groomed for stardom, they aren’t groomed for a career. Her co-star Seth Rogen–who I like a lot, so I’m not slamming him–is producing AND more importantly writing the projects he’s in.
Heigl understands that a career built on thin work isn’t a career. In fact, the reaction to her comments only reaffirm that understanding.
Not true. I just read somewhere that Heigl has formed her own production company to begin having leading roles in films catered to her career.
She just snapped up the rights to “Escape” a screenplay about a Mormon wife in a polygamous marriage, who escapes from it. I think “27 Dresses” was also snapped up for HER, but I can’t be sure.
Wow!
I love, love, love the discourse that this post (and Katherine’s comments) has started.
I’ve so enjoyed reading Melissa’s information and take on the whole situation…and then all of your very thoughtful comments above. Truly, this is one of the main reasons I’m the faithful internet surfer that I am.
If I can’t sit and have coffee talk with you all personally….at least I can jump into the online conversation. Thanks!
I pretty much feel the same way most of you do….I really like Heigl and feel this recent Emmy comment is making news because she is popular with Grey’s viewers AND film audiences alike, so there are obviously people who care about her and what she says. Then….there are the Hollywood “suits” who would rather she just act pretty, bring in the viewers (i.e. dollars) and keep quiet.
I really don’t think that any of this truly matters to average Jane (or Joe)in deciding what TV show to watch or film to go see. If it’s a decent flick, and they are a Heigl fan….they’ll buy a ticket or rent it. (At least, that’s how it works with me and my friends).
What she said about Judd Apatow (seriously, most people outside of Hollywood don’t know — or care, who he is) or the Emmy nomination process….they got bigger problems. (like the price of gas!)I really think that’s the bottom line.
We’ll see how her next flick with Gerard Butler does…I don’t know too much about it, but I thought the premise sounded OK….and they are both pretty likeable. Hopefully, it’s a decent script.
Finally, I thought I’d just add that People Magazine online today had a short piece about Katherine’s former Grey’s co-star, Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
He discusses Katherine, the possibility of returning to Grey’s (I’m not sure how…since he kinda, ya know — DIED.) and her recent Emmy brouhaha:
“She’s awesome,” Morgan said. “I had a blast with her. She’s wonderful and I can’t say enough good things about her and that whole (Grey’s) cast.”
As for Heigl’s recent Emmy flap, Morgan says her comments were most likely misunderstood–and even if they weren’t, he finds her candor refreshing.
“I think that stuff gets blown completely out of proportion,” he said. “She just speaks her mind. That’s exactly what she does and maybe more people should speak their mind.”
Wow…thanks Jeffrey, for speaking YOUR mind. And to all of you commenters above, I’ve truly enjoyed the discussion. I look forward to more of it in the future.
Not true. I just read somewhere that Heigl has formed her own production company to begin having leading roles in films catered to her career.
She just snapped up the rights to “Escape” a screenplay about a Mormon wife in a polygamous marriage, who escapes from it. I think “27 Dresses” was also snapped up for HER, but I can’t be sure.
Sorry, just realized I never completed that thought. I’m bad for shifting thoughts around and then forgetting to finish one out. :-)
My main point is that actors like Heigl aren’t pushed towards building a career with a varied body of work. Films like “27 Dresses” are mostly plug and play. It’s a film that any 20-something actor can be in. Especially coming off a show like “Grey’s Anatomy”.
Rogen on the other hand has now been in, thanks to Apatow and friends, three genre defining hit films that he’s either written or co-produced. He’s been in three animated films that where hits, two that were this year–true, the parts were small in two, but he was in them. He’s got two more potential big hits coming up this year. Of which, again, he co-wrote and was a producer.
Rogen is in a position to have much more control over what he’s in.
Apatow mentored and encouraged Rogen, and Rogen is now able to define who he is as an actor/writer/producer.
Maybe Heigl has a mentor in a position to take her to the next level and we just haven’t been privy to that information. But, from where I’m sitting, that doesn’t seem likely, nor is it surprising if she doesn’t have one.
At the least, is there a director or producer or writer she’s consistently working with? From Tom to Leo, Rogen to Clooney, male actor’s ability to consistently work with the same above the line people has either helped them establish and maintain their careers.
I agree 100% with Anonymous.
Charles, you are totally correct and I haven’t thought about it that way.
Admittedly, 27 Dresses wasn’t really all that great. It was a fun, entertaining movie, but nothing more. I hope that Heigl will step up to the plate and find better film roles that will force Hollywood to take her more seriously.
Drew Barrymore, on the other hand, has always been involved in producing her films over the past decade. Now she’s stepping up to the director’s plate with “Whip It!” and is considered to be a serious A-list actress with producer’s credentials.
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