Grammys 2018: How the annual music awards will support the #TimesUp movement with a white rose

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Music industry figures will wear white roses to this year's Grammy awards in solidarity with the #TimesUp movement.

The plan was put together by Meg Harkins, senior VP at Roc Nation, and Kerin Rait, rhythm promotion at Interscope/Geffen/A&M records, after it was reportedly realised that there was no plan to show support for #TimesUp at the Grammys.

Billboard reports that earlier this week, the two music industry figures called a group of women in the industry together to discuss what to do.

They chose the white rose both because of its practical nature and symbolic colour, given tha the suffragettes wore white during their protests. At the Golden Globe awards, many stars wore black in solidarity with victims of sexual harassment or assault.

"It grew like wildfire,” Harkins said of the white rose idea. “It is an important conversation politically in our country and it's also a conversation we need to have internally with our artists and our companies.

“We need to say if anyone is feeling like they're being discriminated against and they don't feel safe in their workplace, they have people who will support them.”

“It's very important that we stay on their message,” Rait added, referring to the work by film industry figures at the Golden Globes, and the Women's March in the US. “The amount of work they have been able to do in just three short weeks is inspiring.”

Those planning to wear a white rose or participate include Rapsody, Kelly Clarkson, Cyndi Lauper, Dua Lipa, Tom Morello and Rita Ora.

The 60th annual Grammy Awards take place on Sunday 28 January 2018 at Madison Square Gardens in New York City. See the full list of nominations here.

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