Pamela Abdy Speaks of "Pure, Unadulterated Rage" at WIF Honors
Pamela Abdy said on stage that a feeling of "pure, unadulterated rage" has risen to the surface "with undeniable ferocity," in her first public appearance since she and Mike De Luca left Warner Bros., The Hollywood Reporter reported.
The appearance came at WIF Honors, the annual event of Women in Film, held on November 5, 2026. Abdy received the inaugural Vanguard Award, which the group presents to a leader whose career embodies qualities that move the industry forward. Nancy Meyers presented it to her.
Women in Film describes its mission as advocating for and advancing the careers of women and gender diverse people working in the screen industries, with the goal of reaching parity and transforming culture. The Vanguard Award was the first of its kind, and Abdy's name had been public since early October.
In her speech, Abdy described being called difficult, emotional and combative. She said she had been told to put on her "big-boy pants" and to smile more. She also said she had been told that movies starring women and movies directed by women do not make as much money. Her view was that it is getting harder, not easier, to be a woman in the business.
She said it had taken her 31 years in the industry to speak in her own voice. She also thanked De Luca, saying he had been there through highs, lows, successes and public failures.
Abdy was announced as the Vanguard recipient on the morning of October 1, when she held the title of co-chair and CEO of Warner Bros., according to Yahoo Entertainment. Other honorees in the 2026 class included Salma Hayek Pinault, Adria Arjona, Gemma Chan and Beth de Araújo, Variety reported.
For anyone who has followed the business, the night offered a rare public account from someone who spent three decades inside studio offices. For everyone else, it was a reminder that the films people watch are shaped by a long chain of choices, and that the people making those choices do not always agree on who gets a seat at the table.
