Time's Up

Time's Up
Name	Time's Up
Founded	2018
Founders	Hollywood, New York City, Los Angeles
Type	Advocacy organization
Headquarters	New York City
Region served	United States

Time's Up was founded in 2018 as a movement and organization addressing sexual harassment and assault in entertainment and other industries after high-profile allegations surfaced against figures in film, television, politics, publishing, and business. It mobilized celebrities, legal advocates, labor leaders, journalists, and activists to create legal defense funds, workplace guidelines, and public campaigns that intersected with movements involving MeToo Movement, Women's March (2017), Black Lives Matter, National Organization for Women, and American Civil Liberties Union.

Background and Origins

The organization emerged following investigative reporting by outlets such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, Variety (magazine), The Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times that detailed allegations against prominent figures like Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Bill Cosby, Matt Lauer, and Les Moonves. Influential cultural moments included speeches by Ava DuVernay, appearances by Meryl Streep, and advocacy by leaders such as Tarana Burke, whose work with the MeToo Movement provided grassroots context. Fundraising and organizing drew on networks among unions and guilds including Screen Actors Guild, Directors Guild of America, Writers Guild of America, Teamsters, and Actors' Equity Association, alongside labor lawyers associated with firms and institutions like American Bar Association.

Mission and Activities

Time's Up's stated goals combined legal aid, policy advocacy, and public awareness campaigns that engaged celebrities, corporate partners, and legislators. Programs included a legal defense fund collaborating with law firms and clinics connected to Columbia Law School, Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and advocacy groups like Legal Aid Society. Campaigns leveraged high-profile events such as the Golden Globe Awards, Academy Awards, Met Gala, Emmys, Tony Awards, and SAG Awards to push for concrete changes in workplace policies at studios including Warner Bros., Walt Disney Studios, Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and Netflix. Policy pushes targeted public officials and agencies like Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and legislators in bodies such as the United States Congress to promote contract reform, non-disclosure agreement limits, and anti-harassment training in institutions including Harvard University, New York University, and University of California campuses.

High-Profile Cases and Impact

The group supported survivors in cases involving figures tied to major firms and media outlets, connecting with journalists and producers at BuzzFeed, CNN, CBS News, NBC News, The Guardian, and ProPublica. Its visibility rose during reactions to exposés about executives at companies like Miramax, Fox News, NBCUniversal, and publishing houses including Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster. Time's Up's activities intersected with legal matters featuring law enforcement and prosecutors in jurisdictions such as Manhattan District Attorney's Office, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, and with litigators formerly associated with institutions like Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Latham & Watkins. The organization's advocacy contributed to corporate policy revisions at conglomerates including Comcast, AT&T, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and prompted internal reviews at nonprofits like Planned Parenthood and foundations such as Ford Foundation.

Criticism and Controversies

Critiques arose from commentators, politicians, and labor leaders including figures linked to Fox News, The New York Post, and National Review who questioned governance, transparency, and prioritization. Some former allies associated with movements like Black Lives Matter and organizations such as National Organization for Women and Feminist Majority Foundation voiced concerns about inclusivity and resource allocation. Legal and ethical disputes involved allegations of mismanagement examined by auditors and nonprofit regulators including state attorneys general in New York (state) and watchdogs analogous to ProPublica coverage. High-profile resignations and disputes referenced personalities appearing on stages with Reese Witherspoon, Oprah Winfrey, Emma Stone, Natalie Portman, and executives from firms like GQ and Vogue.

Organizational Structure and Funding

The organization combined celebrity-led advisory boards, legal committees, and an operational staff drawing on personnel with backgrounds at institutions such as Human Rights Watch, The Innocence Project, National Women's Law Center, and academic centers including Brennan Center for Justice. Funding streams included donations from entertainers, corporate sponsorships from companies like Apple Inc., Amazon (company), Facebook, philanthropic grants from foundations such as MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundations, and crowd-sourced contributions processed through platforms similar to GoFundMe and CrowdRise. Financial oversight involved independent auditors and partnerships with nonprofit managers experienced with entities such as Coalition for the Homeless and Girls Who Code.

Legacy and Cultural Influence

The movement influenced workplace norms across sectors from entertainment to tech firms like Google, Microsoft, Uber, and Lyft, and prompted academic and legal scholarship at centers like Harvard Kennedy School and Stanford Law School. Its cultural impact echoed in films, television series, and books produced or promoted by creators such as Shonda Rhimes, Jordan Peele, Greta Gerwig, Beyoncé Knowles, and publications by Vox, The Atlantic, and New Yorker (magazine). Awards, panel discussions, and curricular changes at institutions including Columbia University, Yale University, and New York University reflect debates first tied to the movement's high-profile campaigns. Its model informed subsequent advocacy efforts by groups working with unions like Service Employees International Union and policy coalitions in legislatures like those of California and New York (state).

Category:Social movements