Entertainment Industry Observes Day Without a Woman, International Women’s Day

Variety Staff

MTV has turned itself upside down — literally — to mark today’s A Day Without a Woman and International Women’s Day events.

The Viacom-owned cabler has turned the “M” in its logo into a “W” in honor of the worldwide effort to highlight gender inequality and the role of women in society. In the U.S., the Day Without a Women event is billed as a national strike in which women are encouraged to stay away from work.

The top of MTV’s website was devoted to the strike, including a prominent link to a LookDifferent.org site offering a list of strike-related events and a deep-dive into issues related to gender bias, wage inequality and feminism.

Apple Music, iTunes and iBooks featured works by female artists prominently on their home pages in observance of the events.

UTA was among the entertainment industry companies giving employees free rein to participate in the daylong strike, organized by the activists behind the Jan. 21 Women’s March events held around the world.

DreamWorks was another of the companies which celebrated International Women’s Day, in the form of a video in which women who work for the company discuss what the special day means to them. The video was pulled together by Margie Cohn, head of DreamWorks Animation Television, to highlight efforts to ensure gender equality throughout the company.

Prominent entertainment industry figures also voiced support for both events on social media.

“Only by including women fully and equally can we access the full potential of the earth and each other,” wrote Broadway star Cynthia Erivo.

“I’m grateful to all the women who came before me and fought for me to be able to be where I am,” Ellen DeGeneres wrote on Twitter.

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