“Has the current wave of sexual allegations left you scared, confused, maybe a little angry?” asks “Atlanta” star and creator Donald Glover in a new PSA for #TimesUp. “Is the culture shifting under your feet so fast you can’t make sense of it? Or do you simply not know how to behave at work any more?” In an effort to clear up any ambiguities about acceptable workplace behavior, the “This Is America” rapper addresses frequently asked questions about sexual harassment in a spot helmed by “Angie Tribeca” actress and director Rashida Jones.
The video tackles issues such as greeting co-workers with deep full-body hugs or mouth kisses — described as “unwelcome touching,” even if you’re an “affectionate and friendly person” and the touching is “not personal” — the complications of asking someone out at work, and why it’s unacceptable to tell a co-worker they look sexy.
Glover emphasizes that all people deserve to be respected and feel safe at work, and offers hilarious advice to those still confused about how to behave in the wake of #MeToo.
Jones has been volunteering with #TimesUp since October, according to BuzzFeed. “There’s been a lot of discussion about whether that’s even fair to link someone pinching an ass or something off-color at work to an actual assault,” Jones said. “I think a lot of people struggle with the connection, because they think it’s dramatic to connect the two. So the PSA is intended to explain that there are these nuanced dynamics that are happening when there’s a power imbalance.”
The “Parks and Recreation” alumna explained, “It’s been a tough conversation to include men in, because I think there are a lot of things women feel men have not understood up until now, and they don’t feel like it’s their job to educate them.”
#TimesUp announced its launch on January 1. While its best known for its work in Hollywood and famous supporters such as Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Chastain, and Tessa Thompson, the movement supports gender equality and fights sexual harassment in all fields. Over $20 million has been raised for its legal defense fund with aims to ensure that lower-income women have access to the legal resources if they are facing workplace harassment.
