Amy Schumer Encourages Hollywood to Protect the Next Generation From Sexual Harassment: ‘Not on My Watch, Motherf—er’
Amy Schumer was honored at the Variety Power of Women Presented by Lifetime luncheon in New York on Thursday for her work with Everytown for Gun Safety. During her speech, Schumer said it was sometimes difficult to keep fighting when “there’s a clear backslide to our equality.” In fact, when things seem especially dire, sometimes women just need to take, “an entire day off watching reality shows about hot people selling real estate in different regions of California… But then we can’t help ourselves; we get up stronger, smarter, more filled with fire, and we remember these brave women who changed what it will say in the history books and will stand the test of time.”
Schumer then shared a story about a project she worked on recently where it was revealed to her that the crew’s production assistant had been sexually harassed by an actor on set. But in spite of the emotions or societal pressures to keep silent, Schumer revealed that the PA spoke up right away.
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“She told the appropriate people and did what she needed to do to feel safe and to heal,” Schumer said. “I called her to apologize and thank her for speaking up for the women who would come after her that she had saved. This isn’t perfect, but this is progress. And many of you here, today, your work will help guide these women so when the time comes, they’ll say, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry, but not on my watch, motherfucker.'”
Elsewhere in her speech, Schumer used her platform to advocate for gun safety.
“I’m here representing Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action,” she said. “If you’re interested in really helping, everytown.org is a great place to start. Ten years ago, Mayci Breaux and Jillian Johnson, two girls, went to go see my movie ‘Trainwreck’ and were shot in the movie theater, and that’s what brought me to this work. What I’ve learned in my years of work with Everytown is that the gun lobby’s strategy is hopelessness, and keeping us complacent by deceiving us into believing gun laws don’t make a difference. But instead, we need every person to use their voice. And you won’t believe this, but the most effective people have been mothers.”
Sascha Seinfeld, a staff writer on “Life & Beth” and the daughter of Jerry Seinfeld, presented Schumer with the Variety Power of Women Award. In her introduction, Seinfeld recounted a story about Schumer’s ability to support friends in unique and outrageous ways.
“One moment, in particular, stands out from last summer at a memorial dinner for the late, great Jimmy Buffett,” Seinfeld said. “When his widow Jane Buffett entered the room of grieving guests, Amy took one of her tits out, walked right up to Jane, and gave her a huge hug. It cut right through the darkness and made everyone smile. If that isn’t a celebration of life, I don’t know what is. She also said to his daughter and my friend Delaney, ‘If it makes you feel any better, I wish my dad was dead.'”
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