Mark Wahlberg found himself at the center of controversy last year when it was revealed he got paid hundreds of thousands of dollars more than his co-star Michelle Williams for reshoots of their movie All The Money In The World.
As the #MeToo and Times Up movements dominated Hollywood heading into and through awards season, the pay disparity between the two stars garnered headlines around the world.
On Sunday, though, a lawyer for the Times Up legal defense fund confirmed that Wahlberg had made good on his promise to donate his $1.5 million reshoot fee to the fund.
Wrote the check: Mark Wahlberg has kept his promise and donated the $1.5 million he received for reshoots on the film All The Money In The World to the Times Up legal defense fund
During a Q&A at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas, attorney Nina Shaw was asked if the money had been received.
‘Yes, Mark has written that check,’ Shaw responded, according to Deadline.com.
While the star of Ted and Daddy’s Home was paid $1.5 million to reshoot scenes in the Ridley Scott film where Christopher Plummer replaced disgraced Kevin Spacey, Williams only got scale – $80 a day.
It was made worse by the revelation that both stars share the same talent agency, William Morris Endeavor.
Wahlberg ultimately announced he would give his reshoot pay day to the Times Up fund which represents victims of sexual harassment and abuse.
Controversy: Wahlberg’s co-star Michelle Williams was only paid $80 a day for the reshoots required after Ridley Scott fired Kevin Spacey and reshot his scenes with Christopher Plummer
Got the money: Time’s Up attorney Nina Shaw confirmed they’d received the actor’s donation during a panel discussion at the SXSW Film Festival, saying: ‘Yes, Mark has written that check’
‘It was a huge embarrassment,’ Shaw said at SXSW. ‘And out of it the Times Up legal defense fund did very well.’
Shaw also explained her theory of why there is so much gender pay disparity in the movie industry.
‘Men often get paid more, not because they’re better actors, but they’re in stories where they drive the narrative,’ she said.
‘The reason they drive the narrative is they’re in stories that are picked by men.’
Explanation: ‘Men often get paid more…. they’re in stories where they drive the narrative,’ Shaw said said. ‘The reason they drive the narrative is they’re in stories that are picked by men.’