Rose McGowan confronted Natalie Portman about her directorial history during a recent exchange. McGowan pointed out, "You worked with two directors in your long career, and one of them was you." Portman swiftly responded with a sharp comment.
Natalie Portman made waves at the 2020 Oscars, not only for her choice of attire but also for her powerful statement. She donned a cape with the names of directors who were snubbed by the Academy in the last edition held on February 9, drawing attention to the lack of female directorial nominations.
In response to Portman's outfit, Rose McGowan took to her official Facebook page to share a lengthy critique. The actress, who accused Harvey Weinstein in 2017, didn't view Portman's red-carpet statement as particularly brave. She commented, "It is the type of protest that is well-received in the mainstream media for its bravery. Courage? Not much. She is more like an actress who pretends to care like so many others do. I find Portman's brand of activism deeply offensive to those of us who actually do the work. I am not writing this out of bitterness, I am writing out of disgust."
McGowan continued by addressing Portman's film career and suggesting that there's a discrepancy between her public support for women in the industry and her actual actions. Natalie Portman has primarily collaborated with male directors throughout her career, including Woody Allen, George Lucas, Darren Aronofsky, and Pablo Larraín, among others. McGowan remarked, "Natalie, you worked with two directors in your long career, and one of them was you. You have a production company that hired exactly one director: you. Hypocrisy is the problem. False support for other women is the problem."
She concluded by advising Portman to reconsider her approach, stating, "Until your commitment and that of your fellow actresses becomes real, do us all a favor and hang up your embroidered activist cape, because it doesn't 'fit'."
In response to Rose McGowan's criticism, Natalie Portman did not remain silent. She delivered a firm reply, as reported by Variety. Portman agreed with McGowan's assessment that labeling her "brave" for wearing a garment with women's names on it was misplaced. She noted, "I agree with Ms. McGowan that it is wrong to call me ‘brave’ for wearing a garment with women's names on it. Brave is a term I associate most strongly with actions like those of women who have been testifying against Harvey Weinstein in recent weeks, under incredible pressure."
