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'Coming together to kill old Hollywood': Stars predict 'a sea of black' on Golden Globes red carpet

Laurie Metcalf, left, and Issa Rae were among the stars of film and TV gathered at the BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills on Jan. 6, 2018. (Photo: Getty Images)
Laurie Metcalf, left, and Issa Rae were among the stars of film and TV gathered at the BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills on Jan. 6, 2018. (Photo: Getty Images)

Sunday’s Golden Globes red carpet will look vastly different than that of any awards show in the past. In recent months, it has been rumored that Hollywood is planning to use fashion to make a bold statement at the Jan. 7 awards ceremony: Stars like Meryl Streep and Amber Tamblyn are said to be planning to dress in silent protest by trading in their colorful gowns for all-black dresses. Based on the chatter at the BAFTA Los Angeles awards pre-event tea party on Saturday afternoon, the movement may end up being larger than what was initially predicted.

“It’s going to be a big funeral tomorrow,” said Issa Rae, who is nominated for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for Insecure. “We are coming together as women and as Hollywood to kill old Hollywood. And now we will have an emergence of a new resolve to change the dynamics of the past.”

Samira Wiley, left, and Issa Rae at the BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/BAFTA LA/Getty Images for BAFTA LA)
Samira Wiley, left, and Issa Rae at the BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/BAFTA LA/Getty Images for BAFTA LA)

The actress, like many, is planning to take a stand with her outfit. “It was a no-brainer for me to wear black tomorrow,” she said of her decision. “I didn’t even give it a second thought. And black is my favorite color. It’s also one of my favorite things to be!”

Allison Janney told Yahoo that the movement has taught her that fashion has the power to make a statement far beyond just helping someone to look good. “And you are going to see that tomorrow in a big way,” she said. The I, Tonya actress predicted that a majority of her colleagues would be wearing “their own version of a black dress.” And according to Janney, the Globes will give new meaning to a color that is typically associated with mourning. “I don’t think it’s going to look [like a] funeral. I think there is going to be a lot of hope and celebration with black dresses.”

The star was thrilled to be a part of the crusade. “I love that everyone is standing together and saying that these issues that have been behind closed doors — or not even behind closed doors, just not dealt with — are being talked about and dealt with. I think it’s a really powerful positive moment that is happening now in Hollywood and tomorrow on the carpet — we get to make a statement through fashion,” she said, sounding more excited about the protest than about her nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in I, Tonya.

Janney added that while everyone loves to gawk at what the celebs are wearing on a big day like Sunday, it’s important for the world also to read between the lines. “It’s not about what we’re wearing, but it’s showing that we all know what’s going on and we are taking action to deal with it.”

Allison Janney at the BAFTA Tea Party. (Photo: Getty Images)
Allison Janney at the BAFTA Tea Party. (Photo: Getty Images)

For Janney, wearing a black dress symbolized that she was carrying a message of hope. “We are all in black dresses, but there is hope, and this is a first really great step that we are taking to all deal with the issues of harassment and abuse and inequality.”

When asked about her BAFTA dress, the Mom star joked that the designer slipped her mind but pointed out the fact that the dress was black. It wasn’t an intentional means of kicking off the protests a day early; however, Janney said that it was a mighty fine coincidence.

The ever-fashionable Diane Kruger told reporters that she was also ready to protest the next day. “It means a lot to me to be a part of a sisterhood that I feel has truly emerged coming out of this terrible time,” she said. “I feel proud to have the community. It’s just a symbol. But I think it’s an important and powerful statement to see us all united and just say enough is enough. We’re together in this.”

Sam Rockwell and Diane Kruger at the BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party. (Photo: Getty Images)
Sam Rockwell and Diane Kruger at the BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party. (Photo: Getty Images)

The actress, who would be attending the Globes in support of In the Fade’s Best Foreign Language Film nomination, said she hoped that the movement would bring true change to the acting industry and beyond. She’s also ready to fight any backlash that may stem from her fashion choices tomorrow. “I read this interesting article on Deadline yesterday where people feel like there is going to be retaliation against these women, not right now but once things settle. And that kind of scared me because I saw some truth in that. I felt like that was right. We have to be careful about that,” she said. Still, she was going to wear black to the Globes, regardless.

Rachel Brosnahan is also using the platform of her Golden Globes nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel to help put an end to sexism. “I am standing in solidarity with the women in this industry, with women everywhere, against sexual harassment and assault and abusive power,” she revealed. “We are coming together in sisterhood and light, despite the black, and hoping to take collective action.”

Rachel Brosnahan at the BAFTA Tea Party. (Photo: Getty Images)
Rachel Brosnahan at the BAFTA Tea Party. (Photo: Getty Images)

The star, who said that she loves fashion but knows little about it, added that working with stylist Sarah Slutsky has cued her in to how clothing can make a bolder impact than merely outfitting her for a big night out. “Sarah is very focused on young new designers and seeking out sustainable fashion. I’ve learned so much about the way that fashion can make a difference since working with her,” she explained.

Vicky Krieps, who is experiencing awards season for the first time as part of the cast of Phantom Thread, was planning to wear black to the Golden Globes for some time. She was, however, a late arrival to the movement. “I just heard about it on this carpet here today,” she said. “But I’m definitely proud to be wearing the color in support.”

Vicky Krieps attends the BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party. (Photo: Getty Images)
Vicky Krieps attends the BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party. (Photo: Getty Images)

The German-born actress noted that the concept of gender equality was not new to her but was happy that the issue is at the forefront now. “Growing up, my mother was always teaching me that people are equal — men, women, and people of different ethnicities and ages,” she said. “I’m always happy to be a part of carrying that message forward.”

Megan Mullally is all about the idea that clothing should be used to express oneself. “I think fashion should simply be a form of personal creative expression,” she told reporters. “I don’t think that anyone should be judged. If you are Bjork and you wear a swan dress, that means you’re f***ing badass and that you’re super-rad. It doesn’t mean that you are a weird freak that needs to be made fun of; it means that you’re cool.” The Will & Grace star added a note of caution: “I feel like this trap that celebrities are in where you have to toe the line and wear this certain thing and look this certain way, it inhibits creativity. And it’s also very expensive!”

Megan Mullally with Daniel Kaluuya at the BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party. (Photo: Getty Images)
Megan Mullally with Daniel Kaluuya at the BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party. (Photo: Getty Images)

The actress, who said she was proud to be at the ground floor of the Time’s Up Now movement, was “of course wearing black” to the Globes. “We are sending a signal out to all the women in the whole world to say that we stand with you in solidarity. If you have, are, or will be sexually harassed or abused, we are there. We see you, we are with you. That’s the signal we’re sending out.”

Mullally said that she hoped stars would continue the movement, at least by wearing the Time’s Up pins at many awards shows to come, this season and beyond. “It’s really funny the way that it all happened with Harvey Weinstein and that being what started it, what stuck after all these centuries, that that’s what it is. But good!” she said, adding that “it’s very complicated and it’s very messy right now, and there is a lot of gray area, but it’s still better than what we had before.”

Peter Fonda offered a male’s perspective, telling Yahoo that he is completely down with the black dress movement. “There is so much that needs to be talked about, and fortunately right now is a brilliant time to be talking about it,” he proclaimed as he took to the red carpet with his wife by his side. “We all came from women. We owe them a huge favor. Without them, there is no us!”

Peter and Parky Fonda arrive at the BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party. (Photo: Getty Images)
Peter and Parky Fonda arrive at the BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party. (Photo: Getty Images)

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