Note: This post mentions domestic abuse and sexual assault.
Dakota Johnson spoke on some of the controversy surrounding her previous male co-stars.
In a profile by the Hollywood Reporter, the interviewer talks about the #MeToo movement and "cancel culture" and says that some actors are, "In jeopardy of never returning to the profession following abuse allegations and which, for some, allow no opportunity for redemption."
In particular, three men who Dakota has previously been in movies with are mentioned: Armie Hammer, Shia LaBeouf, and Johnny Depp. Dakota worked with the men on Wounds (2019), The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019), and Black Mass (2015) respectively.
“I never experienced that firsthand from any of those people,” Dakota says in response. “I had an incredible time working with them; I feel sad for the loss of great artists. I feel sad for people needing help and perhaps not getting it in time. I feel sad for anyone who was harmed or hurt. It’s just really sad."
"I do believe that people can change. I want to believe in the power of a human being to change and evolve and get help and help other people."
"I think there’s definitely a major overcorrection happening," she continued. "But I do believe that there’s a way for the pendulum to find the middle. The way that studios have been run up until now, and still now, is behind."
"It is such an antiquated mindset of what movies should be made, who should be in them, how much people should get paid, what equality and diversity look like. Sometimes the old school needs to be moved out for the new school to come in. But, yeah, cancel culture is such a fucking downer. I hate that term,” she concluded.
You can read the full profile with the Hollywood Reporter here.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE, which routes the caller to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search your local center here.