Celebrity
Director Jane Campion Faces Backlash For Her Jab At Williams Sisters
“However, you don’t play against the guys like I have to.”
There is no need to belittle other people’s achievements to lift yourself up. Yet, such was what Jane Campion’s words towards tennis players Serena and Venus Williams were perceived as by many who watched her give her speech at the Critics Choice Award.
If you haven’t known, the Williams sisters presented the awards at the event. Look at those amazing dresses.
When Taika Waititi presented an Oscar for Jane Campion as Best Director for her “The Power of the Dog”, she made quite the… remark.
Here’s the clip of Jane Campion’s speech#CriticsChoiceAwards pic.twitter.com/pucAsmE2JF
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) March 14, 2022
Jane Campion is a New Zealander director who worked on the Western psychological drama based on a 1967 novel by Thomas Savage of the same name.
She started by thanking Taika and praising the “incredible women” in the room. She then made quite the awkward talk about taking up tennis.
She then continued, “Venus and Serena, you are such marvels. However, you don’t play against the guys like I have to.”
The crowd gave her applause, but on the internet, the reception has been overwhelmingly negative: that was a bad joke at best, and an insult towards black women at worst.
Users were quick to mention the sisters’ achievements in winning mixed doubles, which is a type of match where men and women pair up to go against each other.
Many have pointed out how she’s the textbook example of white feminism.
i’m personally still recovering from this pic.twitter.com/dQO9fFCXzL
— azhar (@SUCC3SSlON) March 14, 2022
Others compared her prestigious background to Venus and Serena Williams who also had to struggle with much hostility and racism throughout their life since they played as teenagers.
It was such an awkward moment that while Serena clapped loudly, before that, Venus’ split-second expression was caught.
Jane Campion has reportedly apologized for the incident.
