Call for Australian stars to wear black to the Logies

The ripples from Hollywood gender equality campaigns like #MeToo and #TimesUp may soon be felt Down Under, with some local stars calling for an all-black dress code at this yearâs Logies.
The idea has become a hot topic in Australia after Mondayâs Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles, which saw both men and women opt for all-black attire on the red carpet to protest workplace sexual harassment.
The protest was part of #TimesUp, an initiative founded by 300 prominent female entertainment figures, who have pledged to achieve gender parity by 2020, as well as setting up a $US14 million legal defence fund for victims of sexual harassment and assault.
Network Ten host Jessica Rowe criticised the US movement on Studio 10 on Monday, calling it âdumbâ and âtokenisticâ.
âIt is wonderful women are finding their voice, that we are speaking up, but to me it is dumb to wear black on the red carpet,â Rowe said.
âTo me, it is tokenistic and itâs not a good way of sending the right message.â
But several stars encouraged the blackout in Australia, with TV host Laura Dundovic telling Yahoo it was âa wonderful opportunity to open a dialogueâ and former Miss Universe Tegan Martin saying she âwholeheartedly supportsâ the campaign.
Speaking to The New Daily, 2013 Gold Logie winner Asher Keddie said she âfelt the same as everybody elseâ in regards to the anti-harassment movement.
Asked specifically about the black dress code for the Logies, Keddie said it was an âinterestingâ idea.
âI hadnât thought about it. I think that the movement will continue and it should, but Iâm not sure how it will manifest from this point on after the Golden Globes and in our country,â Keddie said.
âIâm really pleased that this conversation is happening and that it will make men and women alike have a think about their own behaviour moving forwards.â
Former Hey Dad! star and advocate Sarah Monahan suggested the Logies go even further by having survivors of sexual assault present awards on the night.
âWill the Logies be having a solidarity movement like the ladies dressing in black at the Golden Globes? Maybe a pin? Itâs not like the industry in Australia is any better than HollywoodâŚâ Monahan posted on Facebook.
âMaybe they could have people like me present an award or give a speech. Grab [Corey] Feldman or [Rose] McGowan as the token international guest. Show some love to those people who have been trying to make a change for years, and not just months.â
H2O: Just Add water actress Amy Ruffle concurred that Australiaâs involvement should go further than just black dresses.
âThe #TimesUp movement and the sea of black at the Golden Globes was incredible to witness, but letâs not wait till the Logies in April to continue the fight in Aus, there is more we can do NOW,â Ruffle tweeted.
Model Megan Gale criticised coverage of the all-black red carpet at the Golden Globes in a post on Instagram, admitting she was âbaffledâ by headlines designating the âbest and worst dressedâ attendees.
âItâs why I have refused, countless times, to judge best and worst dressed for events such as The Logies and The Brownlow as to do so is completely belittling for the women on the receiving end,â Gale wrote.
This yearâs Logies will take place in July, slightly later than previous years, and will undergo a change of scenery, switching its venue from Melbourneâs Crown casino to The Star casino on the Gold Coast.








