Alanis Moressette was scheduled to perform a duet with Olivia Rodrigo at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony this weekend. According to reports, the duo had been practicing on Friday but Moressette decided not to perform Saturday’s performance. They were supposed to do 2022 inductee Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” together.
Morissette stated via an in-depth statement Monday on her Instagram that it had nothing whatsoever to do with Simon or Rodrigo, or any other female inductees. She listed several problematic behavior in an interview. “industry that is rife with an overarching anti-woman sentiment”Included “condescension and disrespectfulness, reduction, dismissiveness, contract-breaching, unsupportiveness, exploitation and psychological violence (and more).”
While I don’t want to point fingers at anyone associated the show, and not praising them for their efforts, “all the amazing people and artists who were there,”Moressette wrote “I am at a point in my life where there is no need for me to spend time in an environment that reduces women.”
She may have come closest to naming the reason behind her decision by observing that “Hollywood has been notorious for its disrespect of the feminine in all of us.”
The ceremony was filmed at L.A.’s Microsoft Theatre and will be broadcast on HBO later this month. Rodrigo continued to perform. “Your So Vain” solo.
Here is Moressette’s entire statement:
There are some misinformed rumblings about my not performing at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony this past weekend. Firstly, I have to say how much I adore Carly Simon and Olivia Rodrigo and Dolly Parton and Janet Jackson and Pat Benatar and Sheryl Crow and Pink and Brandi Carlile and Sara Bareilles — and all the amazing people and artists who were there.
I’ve spent decades working in an industry that has a strong anti-woman sentiment. I have toyed with a lot of disrespectfulness and condescension, reduction, dismissiveness and contract-breaching. Unsupportiveness, exploitation, psychological violence (and many more) over my career. It didn’t stop me from being connected with those I cared about and shared my values with. I am a person who lives to connect and serve others. Over the years, I took it all in on more occasions than I can count. It’s hard not to be affected in any industry around the world, but Hollywood has been notorious for its disrespect of the feminine in all of us.”
Fortunately, I have reached a point in life where I no longer need to work in an environment that promotes the marginalization of women. I have had amazing experiences with production teams of all genders throughout my entire life. There are so many and they are all great fun. A team of people from different backgrounds working together on a single mission is the best thing. I’ll continue to show up in those environments with bells on. 🙂
Voting time! I love you!
Alanis