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BRIT Awards 2018 attendees to wear white pins in solidarity of #TimesUp
By Rose Adams | 19 February 2018
The BRITs is the latest award show to show support for victims of sexual harassment and abuse
* [l-r] Nicole Kidman, Zoe Kravitz, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern and Shailene Woodley wear all black at the HBO’s Official Golden Globe Awards After Party
Following in the footsteps of The Golden Globes and BAFTA’s, the organisers of the 2018 BRIT Awards plan to stand up for women with their own sartorial initiative – asking guests, performers and prominent members of the music industry to wear white rose pins in a "symbol of solidarity" with anti-harassment campaigns including the Time's Up and #MeToo movements.
Ahead of the ceremony at London's The O2 Arena on February 21, organisers wrote to artists, attendees and 1,000 members of the BRIT's Voting Academy suggesting they don the white badges, which will be distributed ahead of their arrival to the red carpet, to show support for victims of harassment and abuse within the entertainment industry.
Director of Events & Charities at the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), Dame Maggie Crowe, said the pin would be given out "as a symbol of solidarity, which we invite them to wear if they so choose". Speaking to The Guardian, BRITs Chairman and Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Jason Iley said: "If the Brit awards can help shine a light on such a sensitive topic, our hope is that it will ultimately help.”
Related: Behind artist Sir Anish Kapoor's 2018 BRIT Award trophy
* Gary Oldman wearing a Times Up pin at the 75th Golden Globes
Despite the pledge not being the first political protest this awards season, it does mark the first time such an action has been initiated by show organisers rather than activist groups. The symbol of the white rose was also prevalent at this year’s Grammys with stars such as BRITs performer Sam Smith, Pink and Lady Gaga all donning the flower with their all-black outfits in solidarity of victims.
The Musicians’ Union assistant general secretary Naomi Pohl said: "We know there are likely to be many victims who have not spoken out about abuse they have suffered at the hands of powerful individuals in music. I hope whatever is said at the Brits by high-profile artists will empower victims to come forward in the knowledge that they will be supported and believed.”
Last year, a string of allegations were made against high profile figures in the entertainment industry – including producer Harvey Weinstein and actor Kevin Spacey – inspiring artists to show their support in a number of ways. The first award show of the season, The Golden Globes kicked off the trend on January 7, with the majority of female attendees donning all black attire. This was echoed by guests at the BAFTA’s on February 18. Social media has also been a catalyst in raising awareness for the conversation, with hashtags such as #TimesUp and #MeToo.