ABOVE: Ronan Farrow. (Photo credit: A.J. Chavar/NPR)
The Hollywood Reporter announced Nov. 21 that Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Ronan Farrow will receive the Equity in Entertainment Award at its annual Women in Entertainment breakfast gala.
The honor recognizes an individual who has worked against gender-based discrimination and toward greater inclusion of women and people of color in the entertainment industry. It will be presented by former Fox News anchor, whistleblower and journalist Gretchen Carlson.
Farrow broke the first allegations of rape and sexual assault against Harvey Weinstein in The New Yorker, and is the author of the newly-released New York Times best-seller, “Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators.” The book chronicles how he followed a trail of clues from the Weinstein story to others about the systems that protect powerful men in Hollywood, Washington and beyond.
THR editorial director Matthew Belloni said in a statement, “As journalists, we have a social responsibility to report the facts and unearth the truths. Ronan Farrow was, and is, instrumental to the current state of the entertainment industry. He, alongside the brave women that shared their stories, served as catalysts that will forever change all industries. We’re humbled to honor him with the Equity in Entertainment Award for his industry-shaking work uncovering abuse against women in entertainment.”
Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor and producer Kerry Washington will present previously announced honoree Reese Witherspoon with the prestigious Sherry Lansing Leadership Award. Additionally, EGOT titleholder John Legend will join Charlize Theron to present $1.5 million in university scholarships to high-school seniors from under-served communities in South and East Los Angeles, all of whom have taken part in THR’s acclaimed Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program.
The Women in Entertainment breakfast gala, attended by 600 of the leading women in entertainment, will take place Dec. 11. Carlson, Farrow, Legend, Theron, Washington and Witherspoon will be joined by guest editor, Olivia Wilde and keynote speaker, Stacey Abrams.
