'We're not even invited to the table': Viola Davis calls out Hollywood's exclusion of women of color

"It's Vast": Viola Davis Calls Out Hollywood's Disturbing Pay Gap

In a candid interview with Variety back in 2018, esteemed actress Viola Davis shed light on the grim reality of Hollywood's pay gap, pointing out that the conversation goes beyond gender – it also significantly involves race. Davis, who has consistently been a powerhouse performer, used her platform to highlight the economic disparities that persist in Hollywood, which heavily favor white actors.

"We Don't Get Paid What Caucasian Women Get Paid": Davis's Take on Hollywood's Pay Gap

Davis expressed her concern about the pay discrepancy between white women and women of color in the industry. "Hispanic women, Asian women, black women, we don't get paid what Caucasian women get paid," Davis lamented. She emphasized that it wasn't the talent that these women lacked, but the opportunities they were denied.

The actress's insights offered a sobering take on the scope of Hollywood's pay gap problem, extending it beyond the gender pay parity issue, which was widely discussed in relation to Claire Foy's pay in The Crown at the time.

"We're Not Even Invited to the Table": Hollywood's Exclusion Problem According to Davis

Davis also took aim at the lack of diversity within the higher echelons of Hollywood, commenting that change would be impossible unless more women of color moved up the ranks in the predominantly white industry. "We're not even invited to the table," she said, highlighting the lack of inclusivity at women's events filled with female CEOs, producers, and executives, where she would often find herself as one of the few women of color.

This plea for change came amidst box office successes of films starring non-white actors such as Girls Trip, Black Panther, and Crazy Rich Asians, offering a counter-argument to the industry's slow-paced recognition that movie-goers will watch stories featuring diverse characters.

Despite her star power and strong stance, Davis recognized that this fight against Hollywood's stark pay gap is a collective battle that needs more voices and advocates to effect real change. Her candid discussion served as a rallying cry for an industry-wide reckoning on pay disparity and inclusivity.

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)