Following a comment from Jane Campion towards the Williams sisters during the Critic Choice Awards, a barrage of criticism arose on the internet against the director of ‘The power of the dog’, who has apologized to the tennis players in a press release.
Campion’s blunder at the Critics Choice Awards
It’s been a good weekend for ‘The power of the dog’which has won the biggest awards at the BAFTAs, the grand prize for Jane Campion from the Directors Guild and has also triumphed at the Critics Choice Awards.
Despite the flurry of success, Jane Campion has also earned her share of criticism for her speech accepting Best Directing at the Critics Choice Awardswhere he also praised the work of Will Smith in ‘The Williams method’ and launched a comment towards the sisters Venus and Serena Williams.
“Venus and Serena, you guys are wonderful… You don’t have to compete with the guys like I do, though,” the director said.
Criticism quickly surfaced online, with many Twitter users pointing out that Campion’s comment was a bit out of place during her speeches and others criticizing that the director’s words were condescending towards the athletes and their efforts as black women in the sport. world of professional tennis.
In response to these criticisms, Campion has released a statement to apologize to the Williams sistersnoting that what she wanted to do was emphasize how she is often the only woman in a male-dominated industry.
“I made an offhand comment equating what I do in the world of film with everything that Serena Williams and Venus Williams have achieved. It was not my intention to devalue these two legendary black women and world-class athletes,” the director said. “The Williams sisters have indeed met men on the court, and off it, and have raised the bar and opened doors of what is possible for women in this world.”
“The last thing I want to do is trivialize these amazing women. I adore Serena and Venus, and their achievements are titanic and inspiring. Serena and Venus, I completely apologize and celebrate you,” he continued in his press release.
Of course, despite the commotion that has been made on the internet these days, it does not seem that the Williams sisters have taken Campion’s comment badly, since the director and Venus Williams could be seen together and taking photos at the party of Netflix after the awards ceremony.