Mark Wahlberg will donate $1.5 million, the payment received for reshoots on All The Money In The World, in co-actor Michelle Williams’s name to Time’s Up, the legal defence fund for victims of sexual abuse and harassment that was set up on January 1, the American media reported.
The company William Morris Endeavor, which represents Wahlberg, Williams and All The Money In The World director Ridley Scott, has also pledged $500,000 to the fund.
“Over the last few days my reshoot fee for All The Money in the World has become an important topic of conversation,” Wahlberg said in a statement. “I 100% 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 announcement follows a USA Today report of the yawning gap in payments received by Wahlberg and Williams for reshooting portions of All the Money in the World. The movie originally starred Kevin Spacey as American billionaire J Paul Getty, but he was replaced by Christopher Plummer after being hit by allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct. While Wahlberg got $1.5 million for his efforts, Williams, who has more scenes than him in the movie, was paid a $1,000 per diem.
According to the USA Today story, Scott said that the reshoots were “made possible because nobody but Plummer and the crew got paid”. Scott said that “Everyone did it for nothing”, but USA Today subsequently learned that “Wahlberg’s team had negotiated a deal in which he would be paid $1.5 million for his reshoot, and that Williams wasn’t told”.
WME said today in a statement: “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 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.”