Art imitates life in Jennifer Aniston’s new Apple TV series The Morning Show, a ripped-from-the-headlines drama about a daytime news show rocked by the #MeToo movement.
For those who don’t know, the series stars Jen as a veteran anchor who finds herself in the spotlight after her famous male colleague (Steve Carell) is fired over sexual misconduct allegations — not unlike the very real scandal Matt Lauer found himself in when he was fired from Today for the same reason.
In a new interview with Variety for the “Power of Women” issue, the Emmy winner opened up about The Morning Show, how the #MeToo movement has already changed Hollywood for the better, and that one time she was bullied by “piggish” Harvey Weinstein.
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Recalling how she re-watched Today the day before Lauer was given the boot, the Friends star admitted she was disgusted at the news of his inappropriate behavior. She said:
“I was so devastated. It’s such a strange thing; it felt oddly like my dad did something terrible. I trusted him and had been interviewed by him. He was there for so many moments in my life. And when Friends was ending, it was Katie [Couric] and Matt interviewing us.”
Aniston revealed the original pilot for the Apple series, which focused on the cutthroat world of morning TV, underwent major rewrites after Lauer’s firing. She said:
“The show got picked up. We sold it to Apple with an outline. Then, about four months later, the whole s**t hit the fan and, basically, we had to start from scratch.”
But she was quick to note Carell’s character Mitch Kessler was not based on Lauer “at all,” explaining:
“Mitch Kessler is not based on him at all. He’s just sort of the archetype of all of the men that he’s representing… [The show is] all fictional, but also kind of highlighting aspects of the archetype of a charming narcissist, of a generation of men that didn’t think that was bad behavior. That’s just the way it works. And men are flirts and women are coy and find it flattering. And thankfully, with the sacrifices of these women who have come forward, this isn’t going to happen anymore. It’s wonderful that you’re accountable and you have to check yourself.”
Speaking of narcissists, Aniston was asked if she ever had to spend time with the Time’s Up’s super-villain that is Weinstein.
Explaining how she worked with the disgraced producer on one movie, Derailed with Clive Owen, Jen recalled experiencing some of his boorish behavior at an event for the film:
“There was the premiere dinner. I remember I was sitting at the dinner table with Clive, and our producers and a friend of mine was sitting with me. And he literally came to the table and said to my friend: ‘Get up!’ And I was like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ And so my friend got up and moved and Harvey sat down. It was just such a level of gross entitlement and piggish behavior.”
But Jen wasn’t about to put up with that piggish behavior herself.
When asked if Weinstein had ever attempted to bully her, she replied:
“He knew better. I remember, right when [his ex-wife] Georgina [Chapman]’s clothing line Marchesa was starting. That’s when he came to visit me in London while we were shooting. He’d be like, ‘Ok, so I’d like you to wear one of these to the premiere.’ And I went through the book, and at the time, it wasn’t what it is today. It was not for me. He was like, ‘You have to wear the dress.’ That was my only bullying. And I was like, ‘No, I will not wear the dress.'”
But did Weinstein accepted her answer? She quipped:
“Well, what was he going to do? Come over here and make me wear it?!”
Thankfully, the rules in Hollywood have since changed for the better.
Related: Jen Explains The ‘Goddess Circle’ Ritual She Does With Her Famous Gal Pals!
The Dumplin’ star admitted she thinks the #MeToo movement has “absolutely” led to permanent positive change in the industry, noting:
“I think there’s still room for improvement, but I think that kind of behavior is done. I think people have had the s**t scared out of them. It’s also this big pendulum. Everybody has this new playbook and everybody’s trying to figure out what the new rules are. But what’s so wonderful about doing this show is that it is so unapologetically honest in terms of topics and the situations. It’s basically showing all sides. It’s showing how things are said behind closed doors during Me Too, that no one else has the balls to say in front of the world.”
Sounds like a must-watch!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA7D4_qU9jo&t=99s
Head to Variety to read Jen’s full interview and look out for The Morning Show, premiering on Apple TV November 1!