Wrote for The Playlist:
Wahlberg’s full statement:
“Over the last few days my reshoot fee for ‘All the Money in the World’ has become an important topic of conversation, I 100 percent support the fight for fair pay and I’m donating the $1.5 million to the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund in Michelle Williams’ name. The current conversation is a reminder that those of us in a position of influence have a responsibility to challenge inequities, including the gender wage gap. In recognition of the pay discrepancy on the ‘All the Money in the World’ reshoots, WME is donating an additional $500,000 to the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund in Michelle Williams’ name, following our $1 million pledge to the organization earlier this month. It’s crucial that this conversation continues within our community and we are committed to being part of the solution.”
It would feel like a generous gesture if Wahlberg hadn’t already essentially held the entire production and film crew hostage by threatening not to approve Plummer, but the fact remains that the actor is not going to get out of this one clean and his reputation has been tarnished. Exacerbating it all is his morally reprehensible ransoming juxtaposed with Williams’ “whatever-you-need” selflessness.
Worse, Wahlberg is currently the highest paid actor in Hollywood. The irony here–given the fact that “All The Money In The World,” is about an old rich sociopath who has an insatiable lust for amassing, and never parting with, his wealth–is thick. If Wahlberg or his reps think this questionable gesture is going to close the matter, they’ve likely got another big thing coming. This likely won’t be the last we hear of this saga given that Michelle Williams and the always candid Scott haven’t weighed in yet.