Celebrities Stand in Solidarity with Former E! News Host Catt Sadler
On the heels of Catt Sadler’s sudden—and for some, shocking—departure from E! News Wednesday, many female celebrities have taken to social media to commend Sadler on her statement-making exit, applauding her for shining a much-needed light on wage inequity and gender biases in Hollywood.
Earlier this week, the TV host left the entertainment news program—on which she’s been a fixture for more than a decade—citing a “massive disparity in pay” with cohost Jason Kennedy and noting that her aforementioned male colleague made nearly double her own salary.
Since then, stars from Jennifer Lawrence to Olivia Munn have voiced their support for the former E! News host. On Wednesday, Lawrence posted an article from Sadler’s blog in which the former E! star penned about her departure; alongside the article, Lawrence writes words of encouragement for Sadler, applauding her candor. See for yourself, below:
Actress Jessica Chastain also chimed in on Twitter, voicing her dismay for this blatant injustice and calling on companies to do better:
“It’s so disappointing to find out that @enews—a network that depends on female viewers—felt your value was worth only half of your male counterpart,” Olivia Munn wrote in a Tweet on Wednesday. She followed up with: “It’s not easy to do what you did. I’m so proud of you for it.”
Outlander‘s Caitriona Balfe also joined Munn in rebuking E! Entertainment for “their lack of respect,” calling the network “absolutely shameful”:
https://twitter.com/caitrionambalfe/status/943651802133786624
It seems Sadler’s powerful and poignant departure has not gone unnoticed, or more importantly, unvalued—especially among women in Hollywood, who for so long have felt the brunt of the wage gap’s villainy. “Our actions must be in alignment with our beliefs,” Sadler responded to the outpouring of support she received on social media. “As painful as it was to leave, I have been empowered by so many other courageous women. It made doing the right thing my only choice.”
Right on, Catt.