Mark Wahlberg donating $1.5M in Michelle Williams’ name

Mark Wahlberg has announced he will donate the $1.5 million he made for re-shooting scenes for All The Money In The World to the Time’s Up legal fund against sexual abuse and harassment.

The actor announced his decision following reports that his co-star Michelle Williams made less than $1,000 for the same re-shoots on the Ridley Scott movie. 

In a statement Saturday Wahlberg, 46, said: ‘Over the last few days my reshoot fee for All The Money in the World has become an important topic of conversation. 

‘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.’

Pay gap: Mark Wahlberg has announced he is donating $1.5M to the Time’s Up legal fund in Michelle Williams’ name after it emerged he was paid substantially more than his co-star for reshoots for All The Money In The World

At the same time, WME, which reps Wahlberg, Williams and Scott, has pledged $500,000 in a donation to #TimesUp.

WME said: 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.’    

It was reported this week that Wahlberg held up the production of All the Money in the World by refusing to sign-off on disgraced actor Kevin Spacey’s replacement if he was not paid more than $1 million for the reshoots which took place in November.

Christopher Plummer was drafted to replace Spacey after filming had already wrapped after claims of sexual abuse emerged against the House of Cards star.

Million dollar issue: Their differing contracts meant that Wahlberg could demand more money for the reshoots while Williams accepted to do them for the standard SAG daily rate 

Million dollar issue: Their differing contracts meant that Wahlberg could demand more money for the reshoots while Williams accepted to do them for the standard SAG daily rate 

'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.' Wahlberg said in a statement on Saturday

‘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.’ Wahlberg said in a statement on Saturday

Wahlberg decided to exercise a co-star approval clause in his contract and hold up production of the Ridley Scott kidnapping drama if his demands were not met, according to USA Today last week.

‘What (Wahlberg) said was, “I will not approve Christopher Plummer unless you pay me.'” And that’s how he (expletive) them,’ says one person who spoke to the publication under the condition of anonymity. 

The Oscar winner would not be allowed to step into the role until Wahlberg got his way, with the latter’s lawyer writing a letter to financiers demanding the payment for his work over the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Williams, a four-time Oscar nominee, is the top-billed actor on the project and has more screentime than Wahlberg 

Williams, a four-time Oscar nominee, is the top-billed actor on the project and has more screentime than Wahlberg 

Shocking disparity: Wahlberg earned an additional $1.5million for the while his co-star Williams was offered less than $1,000 for the rehoots which took place over Thanksgiving last year

Shocking disparity: Wahlberg earned an additional $1.5million for the while his co-star Williams was offered less than $1,000 for the rehoots which took place over Thanksgiving last year

Details over the staggering pay disparity on the reshoot of of the film caused waves when it was revealed that Wahlberg earned an additional $1.5million for the work after his representatives declared that he never works for free – while his co-star Williams was offered less than $1,000 for her troubles.

As TMZ first reported last week, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, when Plummer was brought on the project Scott approached Williams, asking her to travel back to Rome over the Thanksgiving holiday to reshoot some scenes.

Williams answered the call and agreed to be compensated at the minimum SAG-AFTRA rate of $80 per day, earning her a total of $800 for the 10-day reshoot.

Around the same time, Scott flew to London to meet with Wahlberg about doing the reshoot. According to TMZ’s report, the Transformers alum also agreed to redo the scenes with Williams and Spacey’s replacement, Christopher Plummer, but he and Scott did not discuss his compensation at the time.

Allegedly unbeknownst to Scott, Wahlberg’s representatives later met with the two main financial backers of the project and demanded that their client be paid for the extra work.

Williams and Wahlberg took part in the 10-day reshoot in Rome in late November so the film could be released on time on Christmas Day

Williams and Wahlberg took part in the 10-day reshoot in Rome in late November so the film could be released on time on Christmas Day

Christopher Plummer (Left) with Ridley Scott for the 'All the Money in the World' film premiere, Los Angeles on December 18, 2017

Christopher Plummer (Left) with Ridley Scott for the ‘All the Money in the World’ film premiere, Los Angeles on December 18, 2017

When Ridley Scott said in an interview with USA Today in December that he and his cast – excluding Plummer who was paid – were working for free to reshoot the movie in the wake of the Spacey debacle, he was unaware of Wahlberg’s side deal, and was reportedly left feeling betrayed and ‘hung out to dry.’

Williams and Wahlberg are both represented by Williams Morris Endeavor, and some critics have accused the talent agency of failing to inform the Oscar-nominated actress of her co-start’s lucrative arrangement.

But according to TMZ sources, the glaring disparity in Williams and Wahlberg’s payouts came down to their individual contracts: Williams’ contract reportedly required her to do reshoots, as needed, as part of her overall salary, whereas Wahlberg’s did not have such a clause.

One person familiar with contract negotiations explained that it is not a common practice for agents within the same company to discuss or coordinate their clients’ salaries, and doing so would be in violation of their duty of confidentiality.

Unreal: It is now being reported that Wahlberg was paid $1.5million for the 10-day shoot while Williams made just $80-a-day according to Jessica Chastain (tweet above)

Unreal: It is now being reported that Wahlberg was paid $1.5million for the 10-day shoot while Williams made just $80-a-day according to Jessica Chastain (tweet above)

The actors’ union SAG-AFTRA, which represents both Williams and Wahlberg, said it is looking into the pay disparity on Scott’s latest project, which was released on schedule on Christmas Day thanks to the $10million reshoot.

‘We are unambiguously in favor of pay equity between men and women in this industry and support every action to move in this direction. At the same time, performers at this level negotiate their above-scale rates through their agents,’ said a SAG-AFTRA spokesperson.

Despite being the film’s top-billed star and receiving her fifth Golden Globe nomination for her work in the movie, Williams just $80 per day, according to fellow A-lister Jessica Chastain.

This means that the single mother traveled to Italy in late November for a last-second reshoot while being paid 0.05 per cent what her male co-star was making for his work.

Williams was reportedly unaware that Wahlberg was not working for free when the reshoot began, but her agents at William Morris Endeavour were well aware of his payday as they also represent both Wahlberg and Scott. 

After: Plummer (above) was called in to replace Spacey in November, having always been Scott's first choice in the role

After: Plummer (above) was called in to replace Spacey in November, having always been Scott’s first choice in the role

Before: Kevin Spacey as J Paul Getty in the original All the Money in the World shoot (above)

Before: Kevin Spacey as J Paul Getty in the original All the Money in the World shoot (above)

 

 



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