Union weighs in on reported wage gap between Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Williams
WATCH New details emerge in Mark Wahlberg pay disparity controversy
The actors union SAG-AFTRA has responded to a report that Mark Wahlberg was paid $1.5 million for the reshoot of "All the Money in the World," while his co-star Michelle Williams received an $80 per diem, totaling less than $1,000.
A union spokesperson told ABC News in a statement, "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."
The statement added, "As it relates to this matter, you should talk to their representatives."
Publicists for Wahlberg and Williams did not respond to requests for comment. A source close to the production told ABC News that Sony, the film's distributor, had nothing to do with funding or pay negotiations.
The report on the massive wage disparity — which amounts to Williams receiving less than 1 percent of her male co-star's fee — was first published in USA Today.
Sony Pictures'All the Money in the World' director Ridley Scott wasn't 'completely surprised' by Kevin Spacey allegations Kevin Spacey being replaced by Christopher Plummer in upcoming film
The film about the 1973 kidnapping of billionaire J. Paul Getty's grandson originally cast Kevin Spacey in the role of Getty. After Spacey faced a cascade of sexual assault allegations, director Ridley Scott recut the film with actor Christopher Plummer less than two months before its scheduled release.
Giles Keyte/Sony Pictures via APLast December Williams told ABC News that she was all in favor of the reshoots because she didn't want the film to be tainted by the Spacey scandal. She even declined to be paid an additional salary.
"I received a phone call from a producer and [they] said, ‘Please don’t talk to anybody about this, but would you, if we could?’ And I said, ‘Not only would I, but I’ll give you back my salary if that would help. And I’ll give you my Thanksgiving break, if that would help.’ And they, to their credit, they only took my Thanksgiving break," Williams said.
In December, Scott told USA Today that all the actors, minus Plummer, "came in free" and agreed to work for nothing.
But on Tuesday, USA Today reported that Wahlberg’s team negotiated his $1.5 million fee for the reshoot, and Williams, who is represented by the same agency, was not told about it.
Celebrities took to Twitter to voice their outrage about the pay disparity and express their support for Williams following Tuesday's report.
Among those speaking out was Williams good friend, actress Busy Phillips.
"UNACCEPTABLE. UNACCEPTABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TO SAY THE LEAST," she tweeted.
UNACCEPTABLE. UNACCEPTABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TO SAY THE LEAST. https://t.co/KS6hRmE4TA
— Busy Philipps (@BusyPhilipps) January 10, 2018
SHAMEFUL IS CORRECT. https://t.co/7gyEpmw2Zx
— Busy Philipps (@BusyPhilipps) January 10, 2018
Jessica Chastain, an outspoken advocate of gender parity for Hollywood salaries, wrote in support of Williams, "She has been in the industry for 20 yrs. She deserves more than 1% of her male costar's salary."
Please go see Michelle's performance in All The Money in The World. She's a brilliant Oscar nominated Golden Globe winning actress. She has been in the industry for 20 yrs. She deserves more than 1% of her male costar' s salary. https://t.co/HIniew6lf7
— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) January 10, 2018
Jesse Tyler Ferguson was "furious."
Michelle Williams is one of the best actress working right now. It makes me furious that her talent is undervalued in this way. #EqualPay https://t.co/Tk5t9iDQd0
— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (@jessetyler) January 10, 2018
Tamblyn called the report "unacceptable."
Michelle Williams was paid 1% of what her male co-star made on her latest film. This is totally unacceptable. https://t.co/xE5ZNqjcrA
— Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) January 10, 2018
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