Why that Charlie’s Angels tampon scene is so important
Actor and director Elizabeth Banks made a powerful speech this week, and it was dedicated to a tampon scene in the Charlie’s Angels reboot.
At a time when we’ve reached movie remake fatigue, the Charlie’s Angels reboot is something we are actually genuinelyexcited about. That’s because female actor, prodcuer and director Elizabeth Banks is on-board to give the story a fiercly feminist reboot. Inspired by the original 70s TV series and the 00s film adaptations, Charlie’s Angels follows the story of three female private detectives kicking ass in LA. Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott and Ella Balinska play the new angels, directed under Banks (who also stars as Bosley). And Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande and Lana Del Ray have joined forces to provide the film’s track Don’t Call Me Angel.
Basically: we can’t wait for its release in November.
And now, Banks has revealed an important scene that has piqued our interest even more.
Speaking after receiving her Pioneer of the Year honour from the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation earlier this week, Banks talked about a scene involving tampons. She also explained the importance of being able to talk about tampons on the stage she was standing on.
“I didn’t start directing movies because I think I am the greatest director in the world. I did it because I had something I want to say,” she said, accepting the award that has never been won by a woman before.
“I want to change the world, and so in thinking about my status, bestowed just now by three Angels, as an industry ‘pioneer’, I wanted to say something tonight that has never been said on this stage, at this forum. I wanted to do what is a staple of my work.”
Watch the Charlie’s Angels movie trailer
Banks continued: “I wanted to say something entertaining for all, but especially meaningful to women and girls, something that I can pretty much guarantee (past honourees) Darryl F. Zanuck and Jim Gianopulos have never said.
“I wanted to say tampon. TAMPON. Tampon.
“I can only say it is probably the fear of every man in this room that you give a woman a microphone – it is all tampon talk all the time.”
Banks explained that she shouted tampon to help eradicate the stigma surrounding periods and sanitary products. She also revealed that Sony never once asked her to take out the scene in the film.
She finished the speech with a powerful ending, saying: “I just wanted to remind you why you gave me this Pioneer Award here tonight. It is because everything you can do, I can do bleeding.”
Banks previously set a world record in 2015 when her directorial debut, Pitch Perfect 2, took £53 million ($69m) at the box office on its opening weekend – the highest ever figure for a first-time director. She was also a producer on the original Pitch Perfect film, and the 2017 ‘threequel’.
Speaking about directing her newest film, Banks said in a statement: “Charlie’s Angels, for me, is one of the original brands to celebrate the empowered woman since its debut in the 70s. This film honours the legacy of Charles Townsend and his agency while introducing a new era of modern and global Angels. I couldn’t to bring this chapter to fans around the world.”
We don’t have long to wait now!
Images: Getty
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