Entertainment

Chastain Shocked by Attacks Following Diversity Speech

Published

11 years ago

January 21, 2015

Jessica Chastain accepts the Critics Choice MVP award at the 20th annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards at the Hollywood Palladium on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

MATTHEW KEMP, Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Jessica Chastain said Tuesday she has received a barrage of abuse following her recent speech urging more diversity in Hollywood.

The American actress, who was honored as Most Valuable Player at last Thursday’s Critics’ Choice Awards ceremony, used her time onstage to make a plea to Hollywood executives and actors on the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

The 37-year-old star of “Zero Dark Thirty” implored those in attendance to “stand together against homophobic, sexist, misogynistic, anti-Semitic and racist agendas,” leading Oprah Winfrey to mouth “wow” as Chastain concluded her speech.

Speaking to The Associated Press, Chastain acknowledged she was shocked by messages she’s received since the ceremony – calling the reaction “strange.”

“I’ve had really terrible people who are racists comment on the speech and say really terrible things. I’m understanding that some people in this world, how much hate they can have,” she said.

However, she said, she has also been cheered by the amount of support from Hollywood insiders, including film producers and stars, who echo her beliefs on the lack of diversity within the industry.

Chastain accepted her MVP award on the evening of this year’s Oscar nominations, which were criticized by some for the absence of black actors and directors.

“Some people had taken my speech and then made it about awards — like SAG Awards or Oscars. That’s not what my speech was about,” Chastain said.

“To me awards are just a reflection. It’s just a symptom of the disease and the disease is in the industry. If we had more diversity in our films it would be reflected in diversity in the nominees.”

While accepting that, by being a part of the industry, she’s “part of the problem,” Chastain said she is hopeful she can broaden Hollywood’s horizons by continuing to speak out in the future, saying “we all need to work together to fix it.”

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Activism

OP-ED: AB 1349 Puts Corporate Power Over Community

Since Ticketmaster and Live Nation merged in 2010, ticket prices have jumped more than 150 percent. Activities that once fit a family’s budget now take significant disposable income that most working families simply don’t have. The problem is compounded by a system that has tilted access toward the wealthy and white-collar workers. If you have a fancy credit card, you get “presale access,” and if you work in an office instead of a warehouse, you might be able to wait in an online queue to buy a ticket. Access now means privilege.

Published

6 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Oakland Post

Bishop Joseph Simmons, Senior Pastor, Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, Oakland

By Bishop Joseph Simmons, Senior Pastor, Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, Oakland

As a pastor, I believe in the power that a sense of community can have on improving people’s lives. Live events are one of the few places where people from different backgrounds and ages can share the same space and experience – where construction workers sit next to lawyers at a concert, and teenagers enjoy a basketball game with their grandparents. Yet, over the past decade, I’ve witnessed these experiences – the concerts, games, and cultural events where we gather – become increasingly unaffordable, and it is a shame.

These moments of connection matter as they form part of the fabric that holds communities together. But that fabric is fraying because of Ticketmaster/Live Nation’s unchecked control over access to live events. Unfortunately, AB 1349 would only further entrench their corporate power over our spaces.

Power over live events is concentrated in a single corporate entity, and this regime operates without transparency or accountability – much like a dictator. Ticketmaster controls 80 percent of first-sale tickets and nearly a third of resale tickets, but they still want more. More power, more control for Ticketmaster means higher prices and less access for consumers. It’s the agenda they are pushing nationally, with the help of former Trump political operatives, who are quietly trying to undo the antitrust lawsuit launched against Ticketmaster/Live Nation under President Biden’s DOJ.

That’s why I’m deeply concerned about AB 1349 in its current form. Rather than reining in Ticketmaster’s power, the bill risks strengthening it, aligning with Trump. AB 1349 gives Ticketmaster the ability to control a consumer’s ticket forever by granting Ticketmaster’s regime new powers in state law to prevent consumers from reselling or giving away their tickets. It also creates new pathways for Ticketmaster to discriminate and retaliate against consumers who choose to shop around for the best service and fees on resale platforms that aren’t yet controlled by Ticketmaster. These provisions are anti-consumer and anti-democratic.

California has an opportunity to stand with consumers, to demand transparency, and to restore genuine competition in this industry. But that requires legislation developed with input from the community and faith leaders, not proposals backed by the very company causing the harm.

Will our laws reflect fairness, inclusion, and accountability? Or will we let corporate interests tighten their grip on spaces that should belong to everyone? I, for one, support the former and encourage the California Legislature to reject AB 1349 outright or amend it to remove any provisions that expand Ticketmaster’s control. I also urge community members to contact their representatives and advocate for accessible, inclusive live events for all Californians. Let’s work together to ensure these gathering spaces remain open and welcoming to everyone, regardless of income or background.