Ellen Page is known for her starring roles in films such as Juno and Inception. She may be small of stature, but she had a lot of big, powerful thoughts to share on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Jan. 31, 2019. A clip of her speaking out regarding the attack on Jussie Smollett and on Vice President Mike Pence has been circulating the internet. Here’s what she said on Colbert’s show.
Page talked about acceptance in Hollywood
After Colbert made a joke about her height, essentially using it as a metaphor for her sexuality, he segued into the subject, asking her if Hollywood has become more progressive over the last few years (since the actress first came out publicly). Page acknowledged that while yes, there has been some progress, it’s not nearly enough, and not happening quickly enough. “We need to hurry up,” she said. “It’s not cutting it.”
She addressed global warming
Page has taken it upon herself to champion environmental causes. Colbert asks her about this, and she speaks about how those in power who are able to ignore climate change or pretend it’s not an issue are able to do so because “the most marginalized people and particularly people in the world who had nothing to do with this are the ones that are suffering the most currently.” This is known as environmental racism.
Page talked about Jussie Smollett
The topic of the environment quickly became an overarching discussion on how the media fails to address serious issues, and the importance placed on showing “both sides” of an issue. One example she gave was a topical one, about Empire actor Jussie Smollett and his recent attack.
“We have a media that’s saying it’s a debate whether or not what just happened to Jussie Smollett is a hate crime! It’s absurd. This s*** isn’t a debate,” she exclaimed.
She also discussed Mike Pence in particular
Page apologized for swearing and getting “fired up.” “It feels impossible to not to feel this way right now with the president [Trump] and vice president, Mike Pence, who like wishes I couldn’t be married,” she remarked, bringing the conversation full circle back to her marriage to Emma Portner.
She continues, “Let’s just be clear: The vice president of America wishes I didn’t have the love, with my wife — he wanted to ban that in Indiana, he believes in conversion therapy,” she said, as the audience booed at that last part. “He has hurt LGBTQ people so badly as the [governor] of Indiana.”
Page addressed her own privilege while calling attention to those who don’t have it
Continuing on with the subject, Page was quick to point out how many people ignore what’s right in front of them: the cause of these injustices. Speaking almost directly to Pence, and lawmakers like him, she says, “If you are in a position of power, and you hate people… what do you think is going to happen? Kids are going to be abused, and they’re going to kill themselves, and people are going to be beaten on the street.
She ended by saying, “I have traveled the world and I have met the most marginalized people you can meet. I am lucky to have this time and the privilege to say this. This needs to f****** stop.”
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