Demi Moore reflects on historic ‘Striptease’ salary and pay equity

At the Step Up Inspiration Awards in Los Angeles, actress Demi Moore reflected on her historic 1996 salary for the film ‘Striptease’. For that role, Moore received approximately 12.5 million USD, making her the highest-paid actress in the world at the time and placing her earnings on par with major male stars.

Moore clarified that she did not view her pursuit of equal pay as a ‘battle’ against Hollywood, noting that framing it as a conflict can provoke resistance. Instead, she described it as a matter of justice, asking, ‘Why should I not get what I deserve?’

She also addressed the backlash she faced following the film's release. Moore noted that the criticism she received was often linked to the subject matter of the movie, which focused on the world of stripping, suggesting that the timing of the professional backlash coincided with her achieving pay parity.