Constance Wu describes exactly what's wrong with Casey Affleck's Oscar nod.
'I'm a woman & human first. That's what my craft is built on.'
You may recognize actor Constance Wu.
She stars in "Fresh Off the Boat," the groundbreaking ABC sitcom that's been praised for giving a TV voice to the Asian-American experience (and for its downright hilarity).
Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for The Critics' Choice Awards.
You may also recognize actor and director — and younger brother to Ben — Casey Affleck.
Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images.
While Casey Affleck's been a standout in the indie-filmmaking scene for a while, it wasn't until more recently that he gained national recognition (aside from having a very famous big sibling) for his performances in films like "Gone Baby Gone."
Now, he's an Oscar favorite to win Best Actor for his performance in "Manchester by the Sea."
You may or may not also know that Affleck has been accused of sexual assault.
In 2010, two women who'd worked with him on the set of "I'm Still Here" said they were harassed by Affleck, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The accusations ranged "from incredibly unprofessional behavior to actual physical intimidation," The Daily Beast reported, detailing the troubling allegations. Affleck denied wrongdoing.
The suits were eventually dismissed after all parties agreed on an undisclosed settlement.
Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images.
With all the recent Oscar buzz over his nod for "Manchester by the Sea," the idea that Affleck may have taken advantage of his position of authority on set to harass women has understandably disturbed many both inside and outside of Hollywood.
Constance Wu is one of them.
Speaking candidly on Twitter, Wu dug into Affleck for the allegations against him and criticized the Academy for overlooking the actor's troubling past.
First, she (sarcastically) pointed out why guys should all consider buying their way out of trouble, with a real reminder that just because something is settled "out of court" doesn't mean it didn't happen.
Then, she pointed out why, in Hollywood, being a good actor often seems to trump being a good person.
Finally, she shared a powerful statement detailing why, exactly, Casey Affleck's Oscar nomination feels so wrong. "Casey Affleck's win will be a nod to Trump's," Wu tweeted with the note.
As Wu argues, Affleck's excellent performance in "Manchester by the Sea" should stand out completely separate from his eligibility to win an award that's devoted to honoring the craft of acting. After all, "the absence of awards [doesn't] diminish a great performance."
"Art doesn't exist for the sake of awards," she wrote. "But awards DO exist to honor all that art is trying to accomplish in life. So context matters."
In honoring Affleck with a nomination (or a win), Wu argues that the Academy is overlooking — and reinforcing — the entertainment industry's systemic, widespread, and often hidden mistreatment of women. And that's a problem.
Wu — whose sitcom airs on the same network that will broadcast the Oscars — took a risk in choosing to speak out against Affleck.
But, as she noted, she's a woman and human before she's an actor.
The only way sexual harassment can thrive is if survivors and their allies are silenced.
Speaking out the way Wu did takes guts. As the 2016 election showed perfectly, survivors of assault are often mocked, deemed untrustworthy, and even blamed for their attackers' actions. Survivors don't speak out for the attention — they speak out for justice.
Through her Twitter feed, Wu showed the world how to stand up to sexual harassment and why it's crucial we all put beinghuman before our own personal interests.
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.