Natalie Portman: Fashion is Cheap but Enacting Change is Priceless

Most celebrities are accustomed to the occasional public backlash that ensues after a fashion faux pas. However, the cape ensemble Natalie Portman wore to the 2020 Oscars sparked controversy for a different reason: her garment made a bold statement that she couldn’t back up. 

Natalie Portman at the 2020 Oscars

Portman’s custom-made Dior dress featured the names of a number of snubbed female directors to highlight the misogyny that she believes pervades the film-making industry and the Oscar selection committee. While it was a attempt to use fashion as a platform for feminism, her audience was quick to point out that Portman’s production company had only ever hired one female director––Natalie Portman. 

Natalie Portman’s production company has only ever hired 1 female director (her name was Natalie Portman) https://t.co/DRUVM1oezW

— Angela Morabito (@AngelaLMorabito) February 11, 2020

A fellow female actress Rose McGowan responded via Facebook to Portman’s politically charged outfit with the heated claim, “[This is] the kind of protest that gets rave reviews from the mainstream media for its bravery. Brave? No, not by a long shot. More like an actress acting the part of someone who cares. As so many of them do.” McGowan continues, “I find Portman’s type of activism deeply offensive to those of us who actually do the work… I just want her and other actresses to walk the walk.”

Since then, Portman has made significant strides to show that she is not only dressing the part, but walking the walk. She recently demonstrated her commitment to the advancement of women by co-founding the first majority-women owned professional women’s soccer team in Los Angeles. The team will begin playing in the National Women’s Soccer League in spring 2022.

The newest soccer team has a star-studded list of co-owners that include Serena Williams and her daughter, Alexis Olympia; Mia Hamm; Abby Wambach; Eva Longoria; Jennifer Garner; and of course, Natalie Portman. 

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I’m proud to be in a group including: Kara Nortman, Julie Uhrman, @alexisohanian, @serenawilliams, @uzoaduba, @jessicachastain, @americaferrera, @jennifer.garner, @evalongoria, @lilly, @glennondoyle — plus 14 former @uswnt soccer players, including Mia Hamm and @abbywambach — who have come together to build a team for LA. We can’t wait to bring positive change on and off the field! #LFG @weareangelcity

A post shared by Natalie Portman (@natalieportman) on Jul 21, 2020 at 9:24am PDT

Portman announced in a NWSL statement, “I am thrilled by the opportunity to partner with this incredible group of people to bring a professional women’s soccer team to Los Angeles… Sports are such a joyful way to bring people together, and this has the power to make tangible change for female athletes both in our community and in the professional sphere.”

Until those tangible changes have time to come to fruition, Portman’s evolution from fashionable activism to concrete actions towards women’s advancement has been well received by her fans. 

Natalie Portman is going to be a leader for a new LA Women’s Soccer League! Yes queen! This is so cool! You go Natalie!! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/PBWSz7n7Ff

— Abby ミ☆ (@flashlover2ajt) July 21, 2020