- 7/6/2025
When it comes to tackling inappropriate questions, these stars know exactly how to respond! Join us as we celebrate celebrities who refused to let sexist interview moments slide. From Helen Mirren's legendary 1975 takedown to Ariana Grande calling out gender stereotypes, these celebs show what speaking truth to power looks like.
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00:00Do you get fed up of being so branded in that way, in a sense, though?
00:03You know, of saying that she's a sort of sex queen?
00:05No, I think there must be some truth in it.
00:07People keep saying it.
00:09Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:10And today, we're counting down our picks for the most straightforward celebrities
00:14who weren't afraid to speak up against gender-biased questions during interviews.
00:17People go, how do you go to the bathroom?
00:19I'm like, come on, is that, do people really need to know that?
00:23Number 30, Jessica Alba.
00:25You don't have to be snappy to stand up for yourself.
00:27During an appearance on Late Show with David Letterman,
00:30Jessica Alba spoke about a genuine concern she had on the set of her film Honey.
00:33When it comes time for the scenes in which you are featured as a dancer,
00:37did that make you nervous on the film?
00:39Really, really nervous.
00:41But as an actress, you just have to overcome that.
00:43She recalled feeling uncomfortable with a revealing costume her character had to wear,
00:47and was visibly uneasy even talking about it.
00:50However, Letterman decided to push her on the matter,
00:52questioning her on how skimpy her outfit was.
00:54I'm kind of conservative, and I'm slightly reserved,
00:59and there was this one scene where I had to wear this tiny little outfit.
01:03How tiny was it?
01:05The actress hit back with a lighthearted response,
01:08saying she felt, quote, nervous discussing that with him.
01:10Although that didn't stop the host from pursuing the topic further,
01:13Alba deftly turned the direction of the conversation to her experience of feeling objectified.
01:18This is very intimidating.
01:19It was horrible.
01:20So the director, Billy Woodruff, asked me if I'd ever had an Incredible Hulk,
01:27which is this drink, Crevasse, which I'd never had before,
01:31mixed with another drink called Hypnotic.
01:33And I had a couple before I danced.
01:37The RuPaul's Drag Race alum is a highly influential and beloved trans rights activist,
01:46model, and performer.
01:47Still, when she sat down for an interview with journalist Katie Couric in 2014,
01:51the questions seemed to focus less on her achievements and more on her body.
01:54You know, I still have my career goals.
01:56I still have my family goals.
01:57I want to have kids.
01:58I want to have more kids, you know?
01:59Like, I want to focus on that rather than what's down here,
02:02because that's been spoken about so many times, you know?
02:04Like, in other interviews with other trans people,
02:06they always focus on either the transition or the genitalia.
02:10And I feel like trans people, there are more to trans people than just that.
02:13Hiding behind a veil of curiosity,
02:14she brazenly asked Carrera about her physical characteristics.
02:18Almost immediately, she shushed the hostess,
02:20asserting firmly that she was not interested in discussing such a personal topic.
02:24Without wavering, she suggested they talk about her booming career instead.
02:28I'd rather talk about my modeling stuff.
02:29I'd rather talk about being in W and being, you know,
02:31maybe an Italian Vogue and doing fun stuff
02:34and showing people that after the transition, there's still life to live.
02:39Number 28, Hayley Williams.
02:41The pop punk darling is not one to sit and take casual sexism.
02:44The Paramore lead vocalist has been dealing with this from a very young age.
02:48I didn't have anyone my age around me that was a female.
02:51I was just on a tour with, like, guys twice my age.
02:55And I really, um, I think I didn't show it on stage, but I doubted myself a lot.
03:01In a conversation with the entertainment outlet Vulture,
03:03she opened up about being subjected to inappropriate comments
03:06from fellow musicians when she was a teenager.
03:08Even back then, she had not hesitated to speak up.
03:11So it was no surprise that when a radio show host
03:14asked her a crude question about her intimate life,
03:16she was hardly flustered.
03:17With a calm but defiant tone, she flat-out refused to share
03:20her private information on the air.
03:22We don't talk about that on the radio.
03:25In France, it's allowed.
03:27That's not cool.
03:29Number 27, Emma Watson.
03:31The Harry Potter megastar has been an outspoken feminist
03:33for the majority of her life in the public eye.
03:35I am from Britain, and I think it is right
03:39that I am paid the same as my male counterparts.
03:43I think it is right that I should be able to make decisions about my own body.
03:49Her brand of feminism is well-informed and never performative.
03:52So she knew exactly what she was doing
03:54when she posed in a gorgeous sheer top for Vanity Fair.
03:57However, critics took the photo shoot and created a narrative
04:00about how it was somehow hypocritical of her to look sexy
04:02when she so strongly condemns the sexualization of women.
04:05What were people saying about you?
04:07They were saying that I couldn't be a feminist and...
04:10And have boobs.
04:11And have boobs.
04:12That's not true.
04:14When the issue was brought up in an interview,
04:16it became clear that Emma had been waiting to hit back.
04:19She promptly educated trolls about the true meaning of feminism
04:22and the liberation it embodies,
04:24but with a touch of classic Emma Watson sass.
04:26Now that's queen behavior.
04:28Feminism is about giving women choice.
04:30Feminism is not a stick with which to beat other women with.
04:35It's about freedom.
04:38It's about liberation.
04:39It's about equality.
04:42It's not...
04:43I really don't know what my c***s have to do with it.
04:45It's very confusing.
04:46Number 26.
04:48Nicola Coughlin.
04:49There's a reason why this Bridgerton actress is known as the People's Princess.
04:53Her turn as Penelope Featherington on the show
04:55is the perfect manual for how different body types
04:57should be represented in film and television.
05:00In fact, Nicola was insistent about Penelope
05:02having intimate scenes that celebrated her physique.
05:04We wanted to make them sexy.
05:06Yeah.
05:07And we wanted it to feel real.
05:08And we wanted the audience to be like,
05:10oh my god.
05:11During a promotional event,
05:12a reporter called this creative decision,
05:15as if to insinuate that plus-sized women
05:17are not generally confident about their bodies.
05:19However, the Irish icon had the cheekiest clapback.
05:23It's hard because I think women with like body type,
05:25women with perfect breasts,
05:27don't.
05:31With that, she didn't just emphasize that she loved her body,
05:44but also empowered other women.
05:46This is one of many reasons why we love Nicola.
05:49Number 25.
05:50Laverne Cox.
05:51Throughout her career,
05:52this daytime Emmy award-winning actress
05:54has worked tirelessly toward making Hollywood
05:56a more inclusive and respectful space
05:58for transgender performers.
06:00Needless to say,
06:00the journey was not easy,
06:02as she had to deal with rampant trans misogyny
06:04and discrimination along the way.
06:06When I was on dating apps and single,
06:08like all the men who would match with me
06:11and then be upset when they saw,
06:14and it's the first sentence in my profile.
06:16Right, right.
06:16I'm a proud trans man.
06:17No, they would read right past it.
06:19I went on a date.
06:20In one instance,
06:21Laverne was on the Wendy Williams show,
06:23where she was casually asked
06:25if she had undergone breast augmentation.
06:27Considering Wendy's reputation for being problematic,
06:29this question wasn't as shocking
06:31as it was disappointing.
06:32Cox politely answered that she would be open
06:34to divulging such details privately,
06:36but not on national television.
06:38Off camera, I can talk to you,
06:39but I've chosen not to talk about
06:40any of the stuff I've gotten done
06:41because I think so often
06:42when trans people's experiences are talked about,
06:45we always far too often focus on surgery and transition.
06:48So I don't talk about that,
06:49but I'm very happy with the situation.
06:51She further added that
06:52because focusing on the physical aspect of transitioning
06:55tends to diminish trans people's lived experiences,
06:58she would not be doing that.
07:00Number 24, Kristen Wiig.
07:02Kristen, I am thinking on this program
07:04of doing the news completely full frontal,
07:07completely nude.
07:09Do you recommend that?
07:10Do you have advice for going nude?
07:12As one of the most talented women in Hollywood,
07:14the Saturday Night Live star
07:15is rarely ever left speechless,
07:17especially for the wrong reasons.
07:19Yet one journalist managed to catch her off guard
07:21when he asked her about a nude scene,
07:22which, get this,
07:24wasn't even in the movie she was promoting at the time.
07:26Not this film.
07:27Not this film.
07:27Not this film.
07:28Not this movie.
07:29That's a different movie.
07:30Oh, you're not nude in this film,
07:32you're nude in another one.
07:33No way.
07:35Wiig was joined by Bill Hader
07:37for this interview about their film,
07:39The Skeleton Twins,
07:39and he was quick to clarify
07:41that they were not unclosed in it.
07:43However, the comedian didn't just let the question go.
07:46She turned the joke on the presenter,
07:47leaving him red-faced for not doing his research.
07:50It is a drama.
07:51It is a comedy.
07:52And it is a comedy.
07:53And it's a very sweet film.
07:55And Chris has not seen it.
07:57And Chris has not seen it.
07:59The songbird supreme has been the subject
08:03of intense scrutiny from the media
08:04ever since she stepped into the spotlight.
08:07During this time,
08:08she has had several unsavory experiences
08:10with interviewers
08:11who have crossed the line of decency with her.
08:13Among them,
08:14Howard Stern might take the cake
08:15for being the most blatantly offensive.
08:17In an interview with a young Mariah,
08:19he not only asked her if she was wearing underwear,
08:21but also commented on her dressing sense,
08:24likening it to an adult entertainer's.
08:25Wait a minute.
08:26Don't act like I'm like,
08:28I'm like,
08:28I don't want to name names,
08:30but I mean...
08:31No, you dress like...
08:33In where?
08:34I hope you take this the right way.
08:35You see, you take things the wrong way.
08:36Oh, no, no.
08:37Don't, don't, don't, don't.
08:38Howard, please.
08:38You dress like a stripper.
08:40You know what?
08:41Bye.
08:41No, wait.
08:41No, Mariah.
08:42Mariah, right?
08:43Despite her repeated objections,
08:45he continued to sexualize her,
08:47making the whole interaction
08:48deeply uncomfortable.
08:49However, instead of storming off,
08:51the fantasy singer challenged his opinions
08:53until he changed the subject.
08:55I was married Poppins
08:56for the first five years of my career.
08:58Would you get all this?
08:59I am like,
09:00compared to who?
09:01Compared to what other singer?
09:02Say what you start?
09:03What you do is,
09:04in your videos,
09:05you look hot.
09:06I want to know,
09:07but since when?
09:08Since this album only.
09:09Number 22,
09:11Janet Jackson.
09:12In the 90s,
09:13this pop legend's sex symbol status
09:14was treated as a free pass
09:15to objectify her.
09:17The infamous Super Bowl 38
09:18halftime show scandal,
09:19where Janet suffered a wardrobe malfunction
09:21accidentally caused by Justin Timberlake,
09:23only made matters worse.
09:25This became obvious
09:26when she was interviewed
09:27by David Letterman,
09:28and he made it his sole purpose
09:29to humiliate her over the accident.
09:31Oh, God.
09:34Can we talk about something else, please?
09:36I've had a day of interviews,
09:38and I'm sure you guys
09:39are sick of hearing about it.
09:40I know I am.
09:41Let's ask her about something else.
09:47I'm not so sure
09:48they are sick of hearing about it.
09:49The ever-elegant songstress
09:51softly told him
09:52that she would rather
09:53not revisit the situation,
09:54but he persisted,
09:55constantly asking
09:56whether she had planned the mishap.
09:58It was painful to watch her
09:59try to deflect his line of questioning,
10:01but she maintained her poise
10:02until he relented.
10:03That sends a bad message,
10:05don't you think?
10:05Why are we talking about this
10:09right now, David?
10:11What would you like to talk about?
10:13Number 21.
10:14Britney Spears
10:15If there's anyone in showbiz
10:17who deserves an apology
10:18from the industry,
10:19it is the princess of pop.
10:21She started working
10:22in the entertainment field
10:23when she was a young girl,
10:24and by the time
10:25her music career took off,
10:26she was still a minor.
10:27However,
10:28that didn't stop the media
10:29or the paparazzi
10:30from sexually commodifying her.
10:32There's one subject
10:33we didn't discuss.
10:34What was that?
10:36Everyone's talking about it.
10:37What?
10:38Well,
10:40your breasts.
10:41When she was only 17,
10:42Dutch presenter Ifo Nia
10:44felt no shame
10:44or hesitation
10:45in asking her about her body
10:47or her take on breast augmentation.
10:49However,
10:49Britney gave a stern answer,
10:51denouncing the press
10:52for spreading false rumors
10:53about her getting
10:54such an operation done.
10:55She clarified
10:56that she had no negative opinion
10:57about the procedure,
10:58but didn't want to promote it either.
11:00I think it's sad
11:01that people think
11:02I've done that
11:02because that makes them
11:03want to go out,
11:04and some of the fans
11:05that look up to me,
11:06they either think bad of me
11:07or they may want to go out
11:08and do that,
11:09but that's not my fault
11:10because the press started that.
11:12Exactly.
11:12If you want to do that,
11:13that's fine,
11:14but I personally wouldn't do that.
11:16Number 20,
11:17Megan Fox.
11:18Megan's the real deal.
11:19This is actually a project
11:21and a property
11:22that is very,
11:23very close to your heart.
11:24Give the audience
11:25a little sense
11:26of why this one's
11:27so important to you.
11:28I mean,
11:28I was a child of the 90s.
11:30In the 2014 film
11:31Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,
11:33Megan Fox played
11:34the iconic character
11:35April O'Neil.
11:36By taking on
11:37such a well-known part,
11:38she was inevitably
11:39opening herself up
11:40to some level of critique.
11:42I didn't want her
11:43to have to be rescued
11:44by her boyfriend
11:45or a guy like that.
11:47She only ever gets rescued
11:48by the turtles,
11:48and that was important to me.
11:49During this interview
11:50about the project,
11:51Fox was asked
11:52about whether now
11:53was the time
11:54for more women
11:54to be taking on
11:55leading roles
11:56in superhero films.
11:57She acknowledged
11:58that the question
11:59was inane
11:59because how could
12:00anyone answer
12:01anything but yes?
12:02Do you think
12:03that I would answer
12:04anything but yes
12:05to that question?
12:06Do you think
12:07I would be like,
12:08no, it's not time
12:09for women to be in movies?
12:11Let's take it back
12:1250 years.
12:14This would have been
12:15a good opportunity
12:15to ask some more
12:16thoughtful questions
12:17that would have garnered
12:18more nuanced
12:19and compelling responses.
12:21Number 19.
12:22Amy Schumer
12:22While promoting
12:24her film Trainwreck,
12:25Amy Schumer
12:26did an interview
12:27where reporter
12:27Matt Tilley
12:28asked her if Americans
12:29used the word
12:30quote,
12:30skanky
12:31when discussing
12:31her character
12:32in the film.
12:33Do you have the word
12:33skanky in America?
12:34We do have that word.
12:36That word is an offensive one
12:38no matter which side
12:39of the pond you hail from.
12:41And Schumer
12:41did not take the line
12:42of questioning
12:43lying down.
12:43No, but no,
12:44come on,
12:44that's the character
12:45of the movie.
12:45I'm not trying
12:46to offend you.
12:47It's how it works.
12:47Whatever you're trying
12:48to do,
12:49you are.
12:50That's a rude question.
12:51She managed to hurl
12:52insults at both
12:53his mother and wife
12:54and made it clear
12:55that what he was
12:56suggesting was inappropriate.
12:57Not leaving
12:58till we get
12:58the car crash moment.
12:59I mean,
13:00that's what we would love.
13:01Well, then you're
13:02going to have to get
13:02it from your wife
13:03when you go home.
13:04Luckily,
13:05in the years
13:05since promoting
13:06this film,
13:06the entire media
13:07industry has learned
13:08a lesson or two
13:09about misogyny.
13:11Number 18.
13:12Charlize Theron
13:12At the Cannes Film Festival
13:29during a panel interview
13:30about Mad Max Fury Road,
13:32Charlize Theron was asked
13:33where she drew feelings
13:34of rage from
13:35in order to portray
13:36the character of Furiosa.
13:38She had a snarky response
13:39at the ready,
13:40schooling the interviewer
13:41on the fact that women
13:42experience strong feelings
13:43of anger just like men do.
13:45You've got this rage
13:46within you.
13:47Where does it come from?
13:49Uh, surprise.
13:51Women have that.
13:53I'm not the only one.
13:55Considering how much
13:56sexist dialogue
13:57was already surrounding
13:58the expansion
13:59of the Mad Max franchise,
14:00we commend Theron
14:01for staying as strong
14:02in real life
14:03as she was in the movie.
14:04George has this
14:05innate understanding
14:07that women are
14:08just as complex
14:09and interesting
14:10interesting as men
14:11and he was really
14:13interested in discovering
14:14all of that.
14:15Number 17.
14:16Blake Lively.
14:17And I saw that this job
14:18isn't just great
14:20because you get to
14:20borrow fun clothes,
14:21but it's great
14:22because you get to
14:25stand for people
14:26who need to be stood for.
14:27While on the red carpet
14:28for Variety's
14:29Power of Women
14:29New York Luncheon,
14:30where she was promoting
14:31the Child Rescue Coalition,
14:33Blake Lively was asked
14:34a question that had
14:35nothing to do with
14:36the cause she was there
14:36to bring attention to.
14:37An interviewer from
14:39the Today Show's
14:39online branch
14:40asked Lively what her
14:41quote,
14:42power outfit was
14:43and she snapped back
14:44about how clothing
14:45should not be
14:46what they're focusing on.
14:47The moment that we
14:47become more aware
14:48and that we change
14:49and that we like
14:50build a new one.
14:52So you can ask me
14:53another question,
14:53but...
14:54She demanded
14:55whether the reporter
14:56would have asked a man
14:56the same question
14:57and we've got to assume
14:59they would not have.
15:00I feel very grateful
15:02on the other hand
15:03that we are all
15:04becoming so much
15:05more conscious
15:06and we're becoming
15:06so much more involved
15:07and we're becoming
15:08active and I feel
15:09like there's an awakening
15:11that's happened.
15:14Also in your videos
15:15the poker face
15:17directed by Ray Kay
15:18has a strong
15:19sexual undertone.
15:20How important
15:21in your auditory
15:23is that,
15:24is that sexuality?
15:25It's as important
15:26to me as it is
15:27to you.
15:28Isn't sex
15:29important to everyone?
15:30All the way back
15:31in 2009
15:32when Lady Gaga
15:33wasn't yet the
15:34megastar she is now,
15:35she was asked
15:36a question
15:36about whether
15:37she's scared
15:37that the provocative
15:38nature of her songs
15:39would overshadow
15:40her musical talent.
15:41Having sexual references
15:43can it undermine
15:44the music
15:45because the sexual
15:46references
15:47a lot of people
15:49focus on that.
15:50I'm not scared.
15:52Are you scared?
15:52No.
15:53She responded
15:54confidently
15:54that men
15:55who write songs
15:56about sex
15:56are called rock stars
15:57while she gets
15:58asked questions
15:59about whether
16:00it will negatively
16:00affect her image.
16:01But when I do it
16:02in my music
16:03and in my videos
16:04because I'm a female
16:06because I make
16:07pop music
16:08you are judgmental
16:10and you say
16:11that it is
16:11distracting.
16:13She finished
16:14by asserting
16:15that she's just
16:15a rock star
16:16and there's no way
16:17anyone could deny that
16:18especially now
16:19after more than
16:20a decade
16:21at the top
16:21of the music industry.
16:22I'm just a rock star.
16:24Number 15
16:25Simone Biles
16:26While most
16:27of the other celebrities
16:28on our list
16:29are actors
16:29or musicians
16:30this Olympic athlete
16:31is also not immune
16:32to receiving
16:33sexist questions.
16:34You let out
16:35the signature Simone smile
16:36after you did your trick
16:37which was great
16:38but that was very authentic.
16:40There was authenticity.
16:41Simone Biles appeared
16:42on a season
16:42of Dancing with the Stars
16:43and after one
16:44of her performances
16:45host Tom Bergeron
16:46questioned
16:47why she wasn't smiling
16:48when receiving compliments
16:49about her performance.
16:50I was waiting
16:51for you to smile
16:52at some of the compliments
16:53and you didn't.
16:56She's being real.
16:56Smiling doesn't win
16:57you gold medals.
16:58Come on, Tom.
16:59Haven't we all
17:00learned by now
17:01not to ask women
17:02to smile?
17:03Luckily, Biles
17:04had the perfect
17:05response ready
17:06saying that smiles
17:07don't win you gold medals.
17:09Ain't that the truth?
17:10The last time
17:11I showed emotion
17:11it was at the Olympics
17:13and I got a bronze
17:14instead of gold.
17:16Number 14
17:16Mark Ruffalo
17:17You know,
17:18sometimes exactly
17:19what I want to hear
17:20isn't exactly
17:20what I want to hear.
17:22Scarlett Johansson
17:22is used to receiving
17:23sexist questions
17:24while promoting
17:25Marvel movies.
17:26More on that later.
17:27But in this
17:28Cosmopolitan UK video
17:29the interviewer
17:30decided to flip the script
17:32and let Johansson
17:32take the serious questions
17:33while Mark Ruffalo
17:35was offered the queries
17:36typically asked
17:36of female stars.
17:37Feel free to embrace
17:38your feminine side, Mark.
17:39I do every single day.
17:40And you've got the premiere tonight.
17:42So Mark,
17:42what are you wearing
17:43on the red carpet this evening?
17:46Uh...
17:46A suit.
17:47He played up
17:48just how ridiculous
17:49these standard questions are
17:50when asked about
17:51his red carpet wardrobe,
17:52the most flattering poses
17:53for photography
17:54and his diet
17:55and exercise regimen.
17:57So did you feel
17:58much pressure
17:58to slim down,
17:59get in shape,
18:00go on a diet, Mark?
18:02Not really.
18:03I, uh...
18:04You made a bunch
18:04of peanut butter,
18:05did some push-ups, right?
18:06Yeah, I did some push-ups.
18:07I did my prison...
18:08I have a prison routine.
18:09From here on out,
18:10let's just ask everyone
18:11the same questions
18:12no matter their gender, okay?
18:15Number 13.
18:16Jennifer Aniston.
18:17Okay, no uterus,
18:18no opinion.
18:19It seems like
18:20there have been
18:20Jennifer Aniston
18:21pregnancy rumors
18:22on the cover of tabloids
18:24in line at the grocery store
18:25for pretty much decades now.
18:27Another wonderful photograph
18:29which I've had to sort of
18:31live with
18:32for the last,
18:32God, 10, 15 years
18:34of a picture of me
18:35with a bump
18:36and a circle
18:37around my stomach.
18:39Aniston has understandably
18:41tired of the persistent questions
18:42she receives
18:43about her desire
18:44to be a mother
18:44and explained
18:45in an interview
18:46with Allure,
18:47saying,
18:47quote,
18:47I don't like the pressure
18:49that people put on me,
18:50on women,
18:51that you failed yourself
18:52as a female
18:53because you haven't procreated.
18:55I don't think it's fair.
18:56She went on to say
18:57that being maternal
18:57doesn't simply need
18:58to be about having
18:59biological children
19:00and that she is mothering
19:02to her friends,
19:03dogs,
19:03and friends' children.
19:04I surround myself
19:06with my amazing work,
19:09my amazing partner,
19:10my beautiful dogs,
19:12and I tune that noise out,
19:13you know.
19:14I mean,
19:14I think it's very sweet
19:15that people
19:16want everything for me.
19:21I'm so content
19:22and so happy
19:22where I am.
19:23Number 12,
19:24Taylor Swift.
19:25We do exist
19:27in this society
19:28where women
19:28in entertainment
19:29are discarded
19:30in an elephant graveyard
19:32by the time
19:32they're 35.
19:34While being interviewed
19:35by Germany's DPA,
19:36Taylor Swift was asked
19:37whether her 30th birthday
19:39would prompt her
19:39to settle down
19:40with a man.
19:41She refused to answer,
19:43saying,
19:44quote,
19:44I really doubt
19:45men get asked
19:46the same question
19:47when they turn 30.
19:48Swift seems like
19:49something of a magnet
19:50for sexism,
19:51and while on the Grammy's
19:52red carpet,
19:53Nancy O'Dell
19:54of Entertainment Tonight
19:55commented on Taylor's physique,
19:57saying she'd be,
19:58quote,
19:58going home
19:58with lots of men,
20:00to which Taylor replied
20:01that she'd simply be
20:02hanging out with her friends
20:03and going home
20:04to her cats.
20:04You're going to walk home
20:05with more than
20:06maybe just a trophy tonight.
20:07I think lots of men.
20:08I'm not going to walk home
20:09with any men tonight.
20:11I'm going to go hang out
20:12with my friends,
20:13and then I go home
20:14to the cats.
20:15No men allowed.
20:16Men get me in trouble.
20:17I don't...
20:17Meow.
20:19Number 11,
20:20Rihanna.
20:21During a red carpet interview
20:22with the launch
20:23of her Rogue Man fragrance
20:24in 2014,
20:25Rihanna was asked
20:26by a reporter
20:27what she's looking for
20:28in a man to wear
20:28her new product.
20:30The multi-talented star
20:31took issue
20:31with the very question itself,
20:33responding confidently
20:34that she's not looking
20:35for a man, period.
20:36What are you looking for
20:37in a man now
20:38to wear this cologne?
20:39I'm not looking for a man.
20:42Let's start there.
20:43The question was phrased
20:44bizarrely,
20:45making it unclear
20:46whether the journalist
20:47was asking Rih Rih
20:48about her love life
20:49or her business venture.
20:50Either way,
20:51the starlet was having
20:52none of it
20:53when she gave
20:53this sassy response.
20:54Because I feel like
20:56I have so much
20:56more to do.
20:58I feel like,
20:59I mean,
21:01Icon,
21:02that's such a big
21:03title.
21:05It's such a big thing
21:06to say
21:08or to even
21:08be said about myself.
21:10So,
21:11now the pressure's on.
21:12I have to live up to that.
21:14Number 10,
21:15Serena Williams.
21:17Do you think
21:17you could ever
21:17beat a guy
21:18just once?
21:20Only guys
21:21are worth watching.
21:22Before she retired,
21:24this tennis player
21:24once had the most
21:25number of singles,
21:26doubles,
21:27and mixed doubles
21:27Grand Slam titles
21:28among active players
21:29combined,
21:30and was ranked
21:31world number one
21:32eight times
21:32between 2002
21:33and 2017.
21:35It's Serena Williams
21:36again.
21:37So,
21:38it is no exaggeration
21:39to call Serena Williams
21:40skillful,
21:41talented,
21:42and graceful
21:43when she's on the court.
21:44But,
21:44as the only tennis player,
21:46male or female,
21:47to win three of four
21:48Grand Slams
21:48at least six times each,
21:50as well as the only one,
21:51male or female,
21:52to earn over ten
21:53Grand Slam titles
21:54in two different decades.
21:55It's also clearly
21:56no exaggeration
21:57to call her
21:57one of the greatest
21:58athletes of all time,
21:59period.
22:00So,
22:00when a reporter
22:01asked her
22:01what it's like
22:02to be one of the
22:02greatest female
22:03athletes of all time,
22:05she quickly
22:05and admirably
22:06told the journalist
22:07what's what.
22:08I would really like
22:09to thank Sports Illustrated
22:10for recognizing me,
22:12not just as
22:13Sportswoman
22:14or Sports of the Year,
22:16but just Sportsperson
22:17of the Year.
22:18Number 9,
22:19Tom Hardy.
22:20You've done this before?
22:22Many times.
22:23When details about
22:24the Mad Max reboot
22:25first came to light,
22:26a lot of conversation
22:28stemmed from the
22:28seemingly female-centric
22:30take on a formerly
22:31ultra-macho franchise.
22:33This naturally
22:34generated a backlash
22:35online from people
22:36wanting to boycott
22:37the film because of
22:38its alleged feminist
22:39undertones.
22:40I just wanted to ask you,
22:41as you were reading
22:42the script,
22:43did you ever think,
22:44why are all these
22:45women in here?
22:46I thought this was
22:46supposed to be
22:46a man's movie.
22:47During a press conference
22:48in Cannes that focused
22:49on Fury Road,
22:50the film's male lead,
22:52Tom Hardy,
22:52was asked how he felt
22:53about all the women
22:54in the movie.
22:55His response was simple
22:56but incredibly effective.
22:58No.
23:00Not for one minute.
23:02Number 8,
23:03Keira Knightley.
23:03I think
23:04that sometimes
23:07it is the people
23:08who no one
23:08imagines anything of
23:10who do the things
23:12that no one
23:13can imagine.
23:15After being honored
23:16with a Hollywood Film Award
23:17for her portrayal
23:18of Joan Clark
23:18in 2014's
23:19The Imitation Game,
23:21Keira Knightley
23:21was answering
23:22the perfunctory
23:23backstage questions.
23:24One reporter
23:25asked a question
23:25that has been posed
23:26to successful women
23:27for decades.
23:29How she manages
23:29to balance her career
23:31and her personal life?
23:32A question rarely,
23:33if ever,
23:34asked of male actors
23:35or politicians.
23:35Are you going to ask
23:36for the men that time?
23:39Knightley was not
23:40going to let it slide,
23:41though,
23:42and followed up
23:43with a question of her own.
23:45Number 7,
23:45Emma Stone.
23:46I'm Emily Jean Stone.
23:48I'm Andrew Russell Garfield.
23:49And we are here
23:50at our Teen Vogue
23:51cover shoot.
23:52While the mid-2010s
23:53saw Teen Vogue
23:54shift towards
23:55more cutting-edge
23:56political coverage,
23:57back in 2012,
23:58they hadn't exactly
23:59hit their stride
24:00in terms of
24:00their progressive slant.
24:01After starring together
24:02in The Amazing Spider-Man,
24:04Emma Stone
24:04and Andrew Garfield
24:05were interviewed
24:06for the magazine.
24:07Emma was asked
24:08about her hair color
24:09at one point
24:09and in response
24:10began to question
24:11why she frequently
24:12experienced
24:13these sort of
24:13superficial questions.
24:15When Andrew interjected,
24:16she said,
24:17quote,
24:17you get asked
24:18interesting poignant
24:19questions because
24:19you are a boy
24:20and shut the whole
24:22thing down.
24:23So,
24:23because he worked with,
24:24I forget his name,
24:25Andrew Garfield
24:26or something?
24:26Right.
24:27Something like that.
24:27Yeah.
24:27And how did you all
24:28get along?
24:28Did you get along okay?
24:29Yeah, he's all right.
24:30Yeah.
24:31It's fine.
24:31Yeah.
24:31Number 6,
24:33Lauren Conrad.
24:34Make it you.
24:35I think that your home
24:36should reflect who you are
24:37and your interests
24:38and you should be
24:39surrounded by things
24:40that you like
24:40and it should be
24:41very much
24:42your own aesthetic.
24:43Lauren Conrad managed
24:44to turn a string
24:45of reality TV shows
24:46into a full-fledged
24:47career as a lifestyle guru.
24:49She's designed
24:50her own fashion line
24:51and published
24:52a series of novels.
24:53That's why her response
24:54to a question posed
24:55on a radio show
24:56was so delightfully perfect.
24:58A listener asked
24:59what her favorite
24:59position was
25:00and after a moment
25:02of contemplation,
25:02she answered,
25:03CEO.
25:04It even took
25:10the radio hosts
25:11a minute
25:12to catch on
25:12to what she just said.
25:14CEO.
25:14Oh, I liked it!
25:15Yeah!
25:16Number 5,
25:17Scarlett Johansson.
25:18Now, were you able
25:19to wear undergarments?
25:21You're like the fifth
25:22person that's asking
25:23what is going on?
25:25Ms. Johansson
25:26is no stranger
25:27to sexist interview questions
25:28and they came in
25:29on a seemingly
25:30constant basis
25:31while she did press
25:32for her role
25:33in the Avengers movies.
25:34For instance,
25:35there was this press conference
25:36in which Robert Downey Jr.
25:38was asked about
25:38character development
25:39and Johansson was asked
25:41about her fitness regime.
25:42And to Scarlett,
25:43to get into the shape
25:44of Black Widow,
25:45did you have anything
25:46special to do
25:47in terms of the diet?
25:49Like, you have to do
25:51eat some specific food
25:52or that sort of thing.
25:53Instead of responding,
25:55she questioned
25:55why her co-stars
25:56got the interesting questions
25:58while she was only
25:59asked about her figure.
26:00Like, how come you get
26:00like the really interesting
26:02existential question
26:03and I get the like
26:04rabbit food question?
26:06Similarly,
26:06she seems to be asked
26:07quite often
26:08about the undergarments
26:09she wears under
26:09her Black Widow costume.
26:11Does the Hulk
26:12have ripped up
26:12CGI tighty-whities
26:14under his ripped up
26:15CGI pants?
26:16We may never know.
26:17Is it inappropriate?
26:18To ask somebody
26:19what kind of underpants
26:20they wear?
26:20I didn't ask you
26:21what kind.
26:21You just asked me
26:22if I was wearing any.
26:23Number 4.
26:24Rowan Blanchard
26:25The Girl Meets World
26:31star had the perfect response
26:33when a red carpet reporter
26:34once asked her
26:35if she had any dieting tips
26:36for other teenage girls.
26:38Blanchard,
26:38who was only 13 at the time,
26:40told Elle that she questioned
26:42whether they'd ever ask
26:43about dieting tips
26:44for teenage boys.
26:45I kind of feel strongly
26:46about everything,
26:47especially anything
26:48that relates to
26:49girlhood and being a girl.
26:51She went on to assert
26:52that she does not diet
26:53and that if she has
26:54one food-related tip
26:55for fans,
26:56it's that,
26:57quote,
26:57if you don't order fries,
26:59you'll probably be mad.
27:01Poignant and true.
27:03Our image has always been
27:04kind of painted
27:04by men
27:05or for men.
27:07So when you see a girl
27:09take a selfie in public
27:10and she's literally
27:11in control of
27:13how she wants to look
27:14and how she wants
27:14to be portrayed,
27:15there's such power in that.
27:17Number 3.
27:18Anne Hathaway
27:18After having a much-reported-upon
27:21wardrobe malfunction
27:22at the premiere
27:23of her 2012 film
27:24Les Miserables,
27:25Anne Hathaway sat down
27:26with the Today Show's
27:27Matt Lauer.
27:28He jumped right into things
27:29by asking her
27:30what was the lesson learned.
27:31I was very sad
27:32that we live in an age
27:33when someone takes a picture
27:35of another person
27:36in a vulnerable moment
27:37and rather than delete it
27:38and do the decent thing,
27:40sells it.
27:40Rather than allowing herself
27:41to be blamed,
27:42she turned his question around
27:44and put the blame
27:45squarely on the photographer
27:46and the population
27:47who'll pay for such an image.
27:48And I'm sorry
27:49that we live in a culture
27:50that commodifies sexuality
27:52of unwilling participants
27:53which brings us back
27:54to Les Mis
27:55because that's what
27:56my character is.
27:56She is someone
27:58who is forced to sell sex
28:00to benefit her child
28:01because she has nothing
28:02and there's no social safety net
28:03and I, yeah, so...
28:05Unfortunately,
28:06this wasn't the only time
28:08Hathaway was faced
28:09with sexist questions.
28:10While doing press
28:11for The Dark Knight Rises,
28:12Anne Hathaway was asked
28:13about her feline fitness routine.
28:15What is the feline fitness
28:17regime?
28:19Um, a lot...
28:20It's all the boring stuff
28:22that no one ever wants to do.
28:24It's just watch what you eat
28:25and get yourself to the gym.
28:26After trying to deflect
28:27the line of questioning
28:28away from her Catwoman costume
28:29and her body,
28:30she finally had enough
28:31of his persistence
28:32and she turned the question
28:33right back on him.
28:34Any particular workout?
28:35Are you trying to lose weight?
28:36What's the deal, man?
28:38You look great.
28:39No, no, no, I...
28:39No, no, seriously.
28:40We have to talk about this.
28:42What do you want?
28:42Are you trying to fit
28:43into a cat suit?
28:44Number two, Ariana Grande.
28:47The side-to-side singer
28:48was not going to take
28:49any gendered questions
28:50when she was participating
28:51in a radio interview
28:52in the mid-2010s.
28:54The hosts of the show,
28:55who all happened to be male,
28:56asked her if she had
28:57to give up one thing,
28:58her cell phone or her makeup,
29:00which it would be.
29:01If you could use makeup
29:02or your phone one last time,
29:05which one would you pick?
29:06Makeup or your phone
29:08one last time.
29:08Is this what you think
29:08girls have trouble choosing
29:10between them?
29:10Yeah, absolutely.
29:12She responded right away
29:13by letting them know
29:14she thought the question
29:15was a sexist one.
29:16Ladies, learn.
29:17Listen and learn, ladies.
29:19Boys, learn.
29:20Oh!
29:20As the interview went on, however,
29:22they continued to put an emphasis
29:24on things that girls do,
29:26and she eventually had to lay down
29:28the law for them.
29:29Boys.
29:30You need a little brushing up
29:31on equality over here.
29:32Come on.
29:33Before we continue,
29:35be sure to subscribe
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29:44If you're on your phone,
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29:47Today, feminism is no longer
29:59a dirty word,
30:00and many stars proudly claim it.
30:03In 1975, however,
30:05speaking up about issues
30:06of sexism was much more difficult,
30:08and not always as well-received.
30:10Do you find, in fact,
30:11that this, what could be best described
30:13as your equipment,
30:14in fact, hinders you, perhaps,
30:16in that pursuit?
30:17I'd like you to explain
30:18what you mean by my thing.
30:20Helen Mirren appeared
30:21on Michael Parkinson's
30:22iconic chat show
30:23early in her career
30:24and found herself cornered
30:26into an uncomfortable conversation.
30:27Except for a serious actress,
30:29because serious actresses
30:30can't have big bosoms.
30:32Is that what you mean?
30:34Well, I think that they might
30:35sort of detract from a performance,
30:36if you know what I mean.
30:37Parkinson seemed to focus
30:39on her body
30:39rather than her abilities
30:41as an actress.
30:42And while the clip
30:43is uncomfortable to watch,
30:45seeing Mirren own him
30:46is totally worth it.
30:47What a crummy performance
30:48if people are obsessed
30:50with the size of your bosom
30:51or anything else.
30:53I would hope that
30:53the performance and the play
30:57and the living relationship
30:58between all the people on the stage
31:00and all the people in the audience
31:02overcome such boring questions.
31:05Which of these no-nonsense celebrities
31:07inspires you the most?
31:08Tell us in the comments
31:09section down below.
31:10I feel like I gave it everything
31:12and I feel so deeply proud
31:14of what we did.
31:16I wouldn't change it.
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