Creative Artists Agency (CAA) is turning over a new leaf after last week’s New York Times story. According to the exposé about Harvey Weinstein’s wide-reaching network of allies and protectors, at least eight CAA agents were informed of Weinstein’s pattern of sexual misconduct but continued to schedule private hotel meetings between the mogul and their clients. Now, per The Hollywood Reporter, CAA has vowed to become part of the solution instead of the problem.
The talent agency has joined ICM in pledging 50–50 gender parity by 2020. CAA has also cancelled its annual Golden Globes party and will instead use that money to set up a legal defense fund for sexual harassment cases. The fund will support harassment victims in all workplaces, not just those in show business.
“The intention is to honor the agency’s nominated clients … while being mindful of the cultural reckoning that has taken place in Hollywood over the past two months with respect to sexual harassment and other forms of abuse,” THR details. CAA clients up for Golden Globes include Meryl Streep (“The Post”), Jessica Chastain (“Molly’s Game”), Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon (“Big Little Lies”), Margot Robbie (“I, Tonya”), and Saoirse Ronan (“Lady Bird”).
“We are so grateful to our female colleagues, clients, and others across the industry for bringing focus to this necessary and overdue goal,” CAA prez Richard Lovett wrote of the 50–50 pledge in an agency memo. “Our business and our lives will be better and stronger if we treat each other the way we wish to be treated.”
CAA plans to achieve gender balance in its management committee and the CAA-TPG board. The agency recently brought on Risa Gertner and Sherrie Sage Schwartz to the management committee. CAA’s operations group, which THR describes as a “finance and workplace culture-focused body,” was formed two weeks ago and already boasts gender parity.
After CAA was specifically called out in the Times story, the agency issued an apology to the people they failed to protect. “We want to make clear to clients and colleagues that even one of our clients being harassed over the company’s 42 years is one too many. We apologize to any person the agency let down for not meeting the high expectations we place on ourselves.”
In the words of former CAA client Mia Kirshner, whose complaints about Weinstein went ignored, these new efforts do not “erase the past and all the pain [CAA’s] lack of oversight caused.” They are, however, “the opportunity to set an example for other companies.” Prioritizing gender equality within its ranks and supporting victims of harassment is a way for CAA to begin effecting change and will hopefully inspire others to follow suit.
You can read Lovett’s entire memo over at THR.
