Michelle Williams reportedly received $900K to attend Saudi film festival with Johnny Depp, Will Smith
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA: Actress Michelle Williams reportedly received $900K to attend the prestigious Red Sea Film Festival, which drew a host of A-listers to Saudi Arabia.
Starring on the red carpet for the 10-day event that began on November 30 for its third annual celebration, the Fabelmans starlet dazzled in Giambattista Valli.
'$1 million was the offer for major stars to walk the carpet'
A newsletter from Puck alleged, "$1 million was the standing offer that went around the talent agencies for major stars to walk the carpet at the Red Sea Film Festival."
According to the newsletter, CAA reportedly negotiated a little under $1 million for 'The Fabelmans' star to appear, and it was suggested that Will Smith may have received even more.
Regarding the claims, the agency declined to comment.
Williams said about the festival per Deadline, "I was moved when I read about how quickly change has come to the region."
Williams wanted 'to listen to women and men who are working'
Williams added, "I was curious to see what the energy was like here and the people behind that change … A festival that is featuring 38 filmmakers, that's not a token, that's a movement. I want to come here and listen. That was my agenda. To listen to the women and men who are working here and making cinema."
Johnny Depp, Sharon Stone, Will Smith and Sofia Vergara among other celebs at event
Sharon Stone, Joel Kinnaman, and Sofia Vergara were among the other celebrities in attendance. The festival's 'foundation' allegedly sent a plane so Johnny Depp could attend the event in addition to endorsing his 'Jeanne du Barry' movie.
The newsletter read in criticism of the event, "Full credit to Mohammed bin Salman, the journalist-dismembering crown prince, who knows the only thing celebs love more than red carpets is money and red carpets."
This occurred years after the Biden administration made public a report on the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which found that bin Salman used a top-tier group of operatives to complete the task.
It caused controversy because no concrete steps were taken against Prince Mohammed; instead, financial and travel restrictions were imposed on other Saudi citizens involved as well as members of the Royal Guard's elite unit.
An executive summary read, "We assess that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey, to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi."
The Crown Prince's authority over decision-making within the Kingdom, the direct participation of important advisors and members of his protective detail in the operation, and his endorsement of the use of force to stifle dissidents overseas were the main factors that went into the decision, as reported by RadarOnline.
Some lawmakers thought the punishment was not harsh enough, while others were happy with the transparency.
