Into ItWith Sam Sanders
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At the same time, parts of the Me Too movement turned out to be a big failure.
And sheused the opportunity of that speechto declare that time was up.
You could hear a pin drop.
Even the bartenders stopped and watched.
It was a significant moment.
It was a moment of Hollywood acknowledging this enormous, egregious behavior publicly.
You have to remember this speech.
The next morning, major news outlets were wondering if Oprah Winfrey might run for president.
That Oprah voice she could say anything, and youre like,Yes, I believe you.
Out of this speech, out of that energy, the group Times Up forms.
So they started convening meetings.
Its a part of the organization that helps connect people with lawyers if theyve been sexually harassed.
After that debut, what exactly is all of Times Up doing?
You mentioned the Legal Defense Fund.
Their money founded it, but they dont run it.
It seems as if, from the start, there was some disagreement on focus.For sure.
That became a point of tension.
Many people were very sincere in wanting to get involved.
Some people wanted the appearance of giving a crap without actually needing to do so.
I am Times Up approved.You got it.
Even just hearing you say it, Im like,Really?
Wow.Tell me why Im curious to hear your reaction to that.
So then this goes on to blow up the organization.
It led to theresignation of the CEOat the time.
And then all but three board members left, and then most of Times Up staff was laid off.
All of that came just cause of the Cuomo stuff?
Or were there other things going on, too, that caused this demise?There were other things.
Certainly, the Cuomo scandal was the proximate cause.
And thereweresome attempts after that to rebuild the organization.
So what Times Up is now is a question.
They havent formally dissolved.
And all the A-listers?
Times Up is that friend we dont talk about.
It was like Times Up had never existed.
Is there a larger issue at play here that Hollywood still needs to get over?
They are focused on what does someone look like?
What can you communicate in a quick flash of a moment in a photograph on a red carpet?
The sort of hard work of changing society doesnt get done that way.
A symbol is powerful, a symbol is meaningful but it cant be the only thing.
This excerpt has been edited and condensed.
