Constance Wu says pitting women against each other ‘helps the patriarchy stay in power’

'When we are not unified it helps the patriarchy stay in power, right?'

(Getty Images)

Actor Constance Wu has spoken about how the media pits women against one another, saying that it "helps the patriarchy stay in power".

Wu addressed reports, published by Page Six, that she demanded to be named first in articles about her new film Hustlers, before her co-stars Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B and Lizzo, in a new interview with The Guardian. She has always denied these claims.

The Crazy Rich Asians star explained that when the media "stereotypes" and "separates" women, it enables men to remain superior in society.

"People stereotyping us separates us, and when we are not unified it helps the patriarchy stay in power, right?" Ms Wu said.

The actor continued, likening the situation to a hypothetical board meeting where all the seats except one are taken by men, leading several women to compete with one another to obtain a seat at the table.

"If you're at a board meeting and there's only one seat for a woman and all the other seats are for men, it's not about being a woman – if you think there's only one seat, it's going to be competitive," the 37-year-old said.

"If it's a board meeting of all women and there's only one seat for a man, the men will start becoming competitive. It's about the scarcity, not gender."

Ms Wu explained that the "really special" thing about working on Hustlers – a crime drama based on a 2015 New York Magazine article called "The Hustlers at Scores" by Jessica Pressler – was that "nobody was fighting about the one seat at the table".

"I really think that is why patriarchy tries to separate us because they know that when we're together there is nothing more strong and powerful," she said.

Following reports regarding Ms Wu's alleged behaviour on the set of Hustlers, the actor released a statement saying that those involved with the film worked together "with an incredible spirit of sisterhood and love".

"Any reports otherwise have felt like an age-old attempt to pit us against each other and knock us down when, in truth, we had the best time making this!" she said.

Wu also told ET that the cast of Hustlers "won't be knocked down", stating that they will "continue to share and celebrate this story together, as sisters".

For all the latest news on Hustlers, click here.

To see all the best-dressed celebrities at Toronto Film Festival, where the film premiered, click here.