Hollywood doesn’t have the best track record in terms of equal pay for actors, especially in regard to gender and racial pay disparities, which still remain pressing issues today. However, many actors and workers in the entertainment industry continue to advocate for better compensation for themselves and their peers. So, here are 11 times actors stood against unfair pay and fought for better salaries for their costars!
4.
Jennifer Lawrence advocated for equal pay for herself and Amy Adams on the 2013 crime comedy American Hustle.
5.
Jessica Chastain fought for her costar Octavia Spencer to earn five times her initial salary and help decrease the pay disparity between white actors and women of color.
6.
The Cast of This Is Us banded together and negotiated for equal pay for main cast members Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Justin Hartley, Milo Ventimiglia, Chrissy Metz, Susan Kelechi Watson, and Chris Sullivan.
7.
Chris Pratt advocated for a higher and more equal salary for costar Bryce Dallas Howard in the Jurassic World franchise.
8.
The original five cast members of The Big Bang Theory each took pay cuts so their newly joined Season 3 cast members, Melissa Rauch and Mayim Bialik, could earn higher salaries.
9.
Will Smith helped decrease the pay gap between costars by giving the entire cast of King Richard personal bonuses.
10.
Robert Downey Jr. threatened to leave the Avengers franchise and Marvel Cinematic Universe if some of his costars, like Scarlett Johansson and Chris Hemsworth, weren’t given pay raises.
11.
Ellen Pompeo fought for her costars Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. to be paid more after earning a huge salary increase herself back in 2017 and 2021 for Grey’s Anatomy.
Did we miss any celebs who have advocated for equal pay in the industry? Share them in the comments!
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