Debra Messing Calls Out E! Over Catt Sadler Pay Disparity on the Golden Globes Red Carpet

Desiree O
Updated

The celebrities came out in force for the 2018 Golden Globes red carpet, using their platforms to talk about the Time’s Up movement. Debra Messing even used her interview with E! to call out the network over Catt Sadler’s recent exit over a reported pay gap issue.

Last month, E! News host Sadler announced that she was leaving her “dream job” after finding out that her equally experienced male co-host, Jason Kennedy, made “close to double” her salary. Though E! said in a statement that the network compensates employees “fairly and appropriately based on their roles, regardless of gender,” many (including Sadler herself) felt that the situation was unfair.

That’s why, when Sadler’s former colleague Giuliana Rancic asked Messing to explain why she and other stars were wearing black on the red carpet, the Will & Grace actress replied, “I am wearing black to thank and honor all of the brave whistleblowers who came forward and shared their stories of harassment, assault, and discrimination. I’m wearing black to stand in solidarity with my sisters all over the globe. And I’m here to celebrate. … We want diversity. We want intersectional gender parity, equal pay.”

She then added, “I was so shocked to hear that E! doesn’t believe in paying their female co-hosts the same as their male co-hosts. I miss Catt Sadler. So we stand with her. That’s something that can change tomorrow, you know. We want people to start having this conversation that women are just as valuable as men.”

Fans were totally here for it.

Though Rancic chose not to address the pay gap issue directly, she did tell Messing later in the interview, “Thank you for using your voice.”

What do you think about Debra Messing bringing up the Catt Sadler issue during her E! interview? Let us know @BritandCo!

(photo via Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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