They said 2018 would be the year of the woman, and while history will decide if that’s true, Utah is starting 2019 out with two speakers who had tremendous roles in the #metoo movement. Jodi Kantor, who writes for the New York Times, and Ronan Farrow, of The New Yorker, are both speaking in the state, conveniently—or perhaps intentionally—just before the Sundance Film Festival.
October 2017, Kantor and Megan Twohy broke the news that Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein had been accused of sexual abuse for years. The story was a bombshell and even had a Utah connection—some of the accusations against Weinstein had occurred during Sundance.
At the same time Kantor and Twohy were working on their story Ronan Farrow had heard the same accusations against Weinstein. But, according to the head of NBC News, his then-employer, his report was not ready for broadcast, claiming a lack of on-the-record sources. Just a few short days after the Times ran its story, Farrow went to press with his own version of the Weinstein events.
Since then the writers have shared the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service and, between the two of them, have revealed sexual misconduct by powerful men all over the country—the shockwaves reached far beyond the entertainment world. Women all over the world shared their stories with the social media hashtag #MeToo and men were asked to listen perhaps, proponents hope, altering conduct in the workplace permanently.
Ronan Farrow: Weber State University’s Val A. Browning Center, Austad Auditorium , January 19, weber.edu, 801-626-8500
Jodi Kantor: Park City’s George S. & Dolores Dore Eccles Center Theater, January 18, parkcityinstitute.com, 435-655-3114
March on Main
Protests are not generally star-studded events. But, for the last two years, the Women’s March on Park City, timed annually to coincide with the anniversary of the Inauguration of President Trump, is also held as the stars take over Park City for Sundance.
In the case of Park City’s march, you’re as likely to see a random Parkite wearing a bright pink hat as you are to see actor Nick Offerman or rapper Common braving the cold and snow to be heard (and seen, this is Hollywood, after all). And as the snow settles, the speakers are more A-list than most cities—Jane Fonda and Gloria Allred spoke at last year’s Park City event, which called itself a #respectrally.
This year the masses will surely take to the streets again, but as of press time, no details are available. You can find out more about dates and times as they are planned and approved by the city at womensmarch.com/2019.
