A column in support of the #MeToo movement signed by around a hundred men from cinema, theater and literature

“It is revolting that theater and cinema serve as a cover for abuses that have nothing to do with art,” says the forum. This is signed, among others, by Reda Kateb, Jacques Audiard and Thomas Jolly.

A column bringing together around a hundred men from the world of culture in support of the #MeToo movement was published Tuesday April 30 on the magazine’s website. She. This forum was initiated by the mathematician Michel Broué, companion of Anouk Grinberg, according to the weekly. “Over the past few years since the #MeToo revolution has spread, we have understood how male behaviors sometimes considered harmless were experienced by women for what they were: abuse.“, they write in the text.

This is signed in particular by the actors Reda Kateb, Swann Arlaud, Mathieu Amalric, the directors Jacques Audiard (whose film Emilia Perez will be in competition at Cannes) and Emmanuel Mouret, the directors Alain Françon, Thomas Jolly (also artistic director of the ceremonies for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris), the historian Benjamin Stora and the journalist Edwy Plenel.

“A man cries”

“Contrary to what we sometimes read, we do not think that we are targeting men“, they express. “The practice of equality is desirable, it does not take away freedom or pleasure, but increases them ; it beautifies relationships“, they write again. “We refuse to recognize ourselves in this hegemonic masculinity. For example, having to reserve gentleness and care for the feminine gender is absurd. : a man cries, a man loves, a man can be upset“.

For the signatories, “it is revolting that theater and cinema serve as a cover for abuses that have nothing to do with art“. Likewise, “it is revolting to use one’s prestige, whatever it may be, to abuse the admiration it arouses“. At stake, according to them, “éspare more than half of humanity from serious attacks“.

The cinema industry has been shaken for several months by accusations of sexual violence which allegedly took place for years. Actress Judith Godrèche became a spearhead of this movement, after filing a complaint in early February against directors Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon, for sexual and physical violence dating back to her adolescence, which the latter deny.