Bradley Cooper Pledges to Help Close Hollywood Wage Gap


In response to Jennifer Lawrences scathing examination of the wage gapbetween actors and actresses in Hollywood, Bradley Cooperhas pledged to partner with the actresses hes co-starring with when negotiating his contracts for upcoming films. I dont know where its changing otherwise but thats something that I could do, Cooper told Reuters. Usually you dont talk about the financial stuff, you have people. But you know what? Its time to start doing that.

Cooper who starred alongside Lawrence in films like Silver Linings Playbook, Serena and American Hustle admitted that he was upset upon learning that the male leads in the latter film himself, Jeremy Renner and Christian Bale were all paid significantly more than co-star Amy Adams, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her role. Adams should have been paid more than everybody, Cooper said. She worked every day on that movie and got paid nothing. Its really horrible actually, its almost embarrassing.

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As Lawrence writes in her Lenny essay, she only realized the wage gap affecting actresses thanks to leaked documents from the Sony hack. When the Sony hack happened and I found out how much less I was being paid than the lucky people with dicks, I didnt get mad at Sony. I got mad at myself, she wrote. I failed as a negotiator because I gave up early. I didnt want to keep fighting over millions of dollars that, frankly, due to two franchises, I dont need.

Lawrence promisedshe wouldnt be as malleable in her future contract negotiations. Im over trying to find the adorable way to state my opinion and still be likable! Fuck that, Lawrence wrote. I dont think Ive ever worked for a man in charge who spent time contemplating what angle he should use to have his voice heard. Its just heard. Jeremy Renner, Christian Bale, and Bradley Cooper all fought and succeeded in negotiating powerful deals for themselves. If anything, Im sure they were commended for being fierce and tactical, while I was busy worrying about coming across as a brat and not getting my fair share.