Jennifer Lawrence's job was threatened when she did this Published By Marriska Fernandes on Nov 16, 2017

With a number of high-profile men accused of sexual assault and harassment in showbiz, actors and actresses have finally started to openly discuss their experiences in the industry.

At The Hollywood Reporter's annual actress round table, Jennifer Lawrence was joined by Emma Stone, Allison Janney, Mary J. Blige and Saoirse Ronan to start the conversation that has taken center stage.

Jennifer revealed that she once felt her job was threatened because she stood up for herself, saying, "I finally made the decision to stand up for myself, and then I went to go to the bathroom at work and one of the producers stopped me and was like, 'You know, we can hear you on the microphone; you've been really unruly.' Which was not true, but basically my job was threatened because the director said something f--ked up to me and I said, 'That's sick, you can't talk to me like that,' and then I was punished, and I got afraid that I wasn't going to be hired again."

Without naming the director in question, she continued, "I was called 'difficult' and a 'nightmare.' I think a lot of people aren’t coming forward because they’re afraid they’re not going to work again. You need to be able to say, 'This is wrong' and have somebody do something about it instead of saying, 'Oh, it’s wrong? Well, you’re fired.'"

Jennifer hopes this will eventually change: "I think it's going to be a while. It's deeply ingrained, unfortunately. It's kind of this social proof in some way of your masculinity." ~Marriska Fernandes

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Comments & Discussion

MA - 11/16/2017 12:51:35 PM

This is NOT the same thing...Lawrence was being 'difficult', NOT being assaulted! Just trying to jump on the bandwagon.
Lee Mac - 11/16/2017 1:10:40 PM

LAWRENCE IS A BRAT CAN'T ACT AND RUNS LIKE A CHICKEN WITH NO HEAD ASSAULT TO HER IS GETTING HER COFFEE COLD !
Vina - 11/16/2017 2:06:03 PM

Abuse of power is what Lawrence which is abuse, when u are threatened by people above u is the same. Especially when that person is speaking out... not to sit back and enable but for that producer or director to LISTEN...
A.Raquel F. - 11/16/2017 5:25:45 PM

I do think she did the right thing by standing up for herself and must always make sure people in movie sets treat her with respect. If a producer threatens to fire her for trying to defend herself she can quit working in a movie before getting fired. A producer should not say cursing words to an actor or to any staff member. That is not professional nor fair there is no reason for a producer to call actors names or even less say the f..word. She wasn't been difficult, she is not stupid and again should stand up for herself. I also think she should do her own movies instead.
J. - 11/16/2017 9:59:30 PM

@MA -- Lawrence was talking about harassment, and yes what she experienced is part of the whole power dynamic in Hollywood or elsewhere. It begins with improper communication and/or threats and usually escalates. @Lee Mac -- She is not a 'brat.' She is an intelligent woman who has enough clout in the industry to speak out. And yes she can act. She won an Oscar and has been wonderful in every film I've seen her in. @A.Raquel F -- I agree, I also think she should start her own production company and hire female directors!
David Z - 11/16/2017 10:32:12 PM

@J. - You go gurl! Tell it like it is!
Rachel - 11/16/2017 11:09:45 PM

It is a shameful nightmare to be put in Any position, either subtle threat or assault.You feel so alone, so unbeliever There is safety in numbers, so go girls and any guys, even if fourth years ago. Tell all while you can.I am proud of you But make Nothing up, it will come back on you.
leann - 11/19/2017 9:04:23 AM

It's the same thing that happens in any work environment, even at school. If you report this stuff, it actually gets worse. You are made to pay in some way, nasty graffiti starts to turn up that NEVER happened before. Groups will form and talk nasty about you within earshot. The rejected men become more aggressive. Women are expected to stand up for themselves, all the blame goes on them if they don't. Yet when you do, all the labels are thrown out and hostility surfaces. Women are still very socially expected to be 'nice' girls and nice girls don't stand up for themselves. A married(with 2 kids)black co-worker and 20 years older than me accused me of being racist because I would not go on a social trip with him out of country even though I was in a relationship. He wanted to 'show me' New York, this was after he'd already felt the need to tell me sexually explicit dreams he'd had about me. After accusing me of not wanting to be seen in public with black people he then told a new co-worker (who happened to be a black guy) right to my face not to talk to me, I wasn't a "nice" girl. As a last straw before reporting him to management, fed up with the bullying and guilt trips to change my mind I ended up yelling at him at work VERY loud to leave me alone, stop coming onto me because he would not stop no matter how 'nice' I tried to tell him I was not interested in messing around with a married man. Funny thing, the other black guy he tried to alienate me from, we ended up clubbing together nearly every weekend later that same year and later was the best man at my wedding. This is just one story, I've experienced this stuff in every environment I've been in. Men acting like women are put here for their entertainment. Its rampant.

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