Barbra Streisand Opens Up About Sexism and Bullying in New Memoir
Barbra Streisand is opening up about her experiences with sexism and bullying in her new memoir, My Name Is Barbra. In the book, Streisand recalls a number of incidents in which she was mistreated by men in the entertainment industry.
One such incident occurred when Streisand was starring in the Broadway play Funny Girl in the 1960s. Sydney Chaplin, the son of Charlie Chaplin, was also in the play, and he developed a crush on Streisand. When she rejected his advances, he became cruel and abusive towards her.
“He started muttering under his breath while I was talking on stage,” Streisand writes in her memoir. “Terrible words. Curse words. And he wouldn’t look into my eyes anymore. And you know, when you’re acting, it’s really important to look at the other person, and react to them.”
Streisand also recalls being humiliated by Walter Matthau on the set of the 1969 film Hello, Dolly!. Matthau reportedly screamed at Streisand, “I have more talent in my farts than you have in your whole body!”
And Streisand says that Frank Pierson, the director of the 1976 remake of A Star is Born, publicly called her a control freak who constantly demanded more closeups.
In addition to her experiences with sexism and bullying, Streisand also writes about her struggles with stage fright. She says that her stage fright stemmed from her early experiences with criticism and rejection.
“I was always being told that I wasn’t good enough,” Streisand writes. “That I wasn’t pretty enough. That I wasn’t talented enough. And it started to affect my self-esteem.”
Streisand’s stage fright became so severe that she stopped performing live altogether for 27 years. She didn’t return to the stage until 2009.
Despite the challenges she has faced, Streisand has achieved incredible success in her career. She has won two Academy Awards, four Emmy Awards, nine Grammy Awards, and a Tony Award. She is also one of the best-selling recording artists of all time.
In her memoir, Streisand reflects on her life and career with honesty and humility. She is an inspiration to anyone who has ever felt like they don’t belong.
Here are some of the key takeaways from Streisand’s memoir:
- Sexism and bullying are still prevalent in the entertainment industry.
- It is important to stand up for yourself and speak out against injustice.
- Stage fright is a real and debilitating condition.
- It is possible to overcome challenges and achieve great things.