Jennifer Aniston’s upcoming drama web series explores sexism, ageism and sexual misconduct in the media. Now, the actress is sharing how the #MeToo movement impacted “The Morning Show” and her own brush with Harvey Weinstein.
Aniston is featured in Variety magazine’s Power of Women edition. In an interview with the publication, the actress looked back on developing The Morning Show before #MeToo made waves.
“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,” Aniston recalled. “Basically, we had to start from scratch.”
The Apple TV+ series sees Aniston as Alex Levy, a veteran morning news anchor. It follows the story of how a sexual misconduct allegation got her co-anchor Mitch Kessler (Steve Carell) fired from the show. Kessler’s place is then filled in by Bradley Jackson (Reese Witherspoon) a younger local TV reporter who forced to deal with the spotlight. The two women are pitted against each other as they navigate through the new set-up.
Along the lines of the #MeToo movement, Aniston also recalled an incident with Weinstein. The now-disgraced producer is known for bullying as well as the numerous sexual assault allegations thrown his way.
“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,'” the actress shared referring to a gown designed by Weinstein’s ex-wife who founded the fashion label Marchesa.
“[Marchesa] wasn’t what it is today. It was not for me. He was like, ‘You have to wear the dress,'” she added. “That was my only bullying. And I was like, ‘No, I will not wear the dress.’… What was he going to do? Come over here and make me wear it?!”
