Evan's Blog

Actor and director made headlines after railing at a misogynist casting call for an Adam Sandler film, but says Wenzel had already left agency Innovative

Rose McGowan has confirmed her agent Sheila Wenzel was not responsible for “firing” the actor and director in the wake of her critical comments regarding sexism in Hollywood.

It is understood Wenzel left agency Innovative prior to McGowan’s infamous tweet on June 17, in which she railed at a casting note calling for actors to show off their cleavage with push-up bras. She later revealed the call was for an unspecified Adam Sandler film.

McGowan made headlines around the world on Thursday when she tweeted that she had been “fired” by her “wussy acting agent” for pointing out “the bullshit in Hollywood”. The Hollywood Reporter later named her agents as Sheila Wenzel and Steve Muller at Innovative Artists.

I just got fired by my wussy acting agent because I spoke up about the bullshit in Hollywood. Hahaha. #douchebags #awesome #BRINGIT

— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) June 25, 2015

However, the actor has since taken to Twitter to clarify that Wenzel was not involved in her departure, calling her “a wonderful agent that ceased working with Innovative before my firing”. Wenzel also appeared to show support for McGowan on Twitter, retweeting a post in which the actor said the wonderful thing about being an artist was that “you can’t be fired from your own mind”.

Sheila Wenzel is a wonderful agent that ceased working with Innovative before my firing. She's a good, strong woman I'm proud to know.

— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) June 25, 2015

Meanwhile, a report in Variety quotes a source at Sandler’s production company Happy Madison who denied all responsibility for the offending casting note. “They were not aware the casting director sent this note out,” the source said. “They felt it was completely inappropriate and have made sure that it has not been sent out again.”

Wenzel had also worked with Amanda Seyfried and Tomorrowland’s Britt Robertson at Innovative. On Thursday afternoon the under-fire agency issued a statement to the Hollywood Reporter confirming the departure. “Sheila Wenzel, Rose McGowan’s primary agent, parted ways with Innovative before McGowan’s tweet yesterday,” the statement reads. “Wenzel was not the primary agent for Amanda Seyfried and Britt Robertson.”

McGowan received support on Twitter yesterday from the Oscar-winning actor and feminist Jessica Chastain, who said her treatment confirmed “the misogyny underpinning the industry”.

As do I. Her treatment confirms the misogyny underpinning the industry. She should be celebrated for speaking out.👏 https://t.co/yUyO0LXkFd

— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) June 25, 2015

 Sourece: The Guardian