Jane Campion won an award for best director at Sunday’s Critics’ Choice Awards and during her acceptance speech she called out Venus and Serena Williams.
According to Insider she said Venus and Serena Williams “do not play against the guys like I have to”.
Even though she received a round of applause after the comment, people on social media called the comment ‘distasteful’.
“The Power of the Dog” director triumphed over her fellow male nominees, Kenneth Branagh, Steven Spielberg, Paul Thomas Anderson, Denis Villeneuve, and Guillermo del Toro.
In her victory speech, however, she pointed to the many other female nominees in other categories.
“It’s absolutely stunning to be here tonight among so many incredible women,” Campion began.
“Halle Berry, you have already done my speech … and really killed it. I loved it. You’re absolutely brilliant,” she said, acknowledging the actress, who won the #SeeHer award earlier that evening.
“Venus and Serena, what an honor to be in the room with you. I’ve taken up tennis — I truly have — and Will [Smith], if you want to come over and give me lessons, I would truly love it,” Campion continued. “I actually had to stop playing because I’ve got tennis elbow.”
Venus and Serena Williams were attending the Critics’ Choice Awards in support of “King Richard,” which received six nominations. The biopic is centered on their father and coach, Richard Williams, played by Will Smith, who won best actor for the role.
After Campion gave her “love out” to her fellow nominees, which she dubbed “the guys,” the director addressed the Williams sisters again: “Venus and Serena, you’re such marvels. However, you do not play against the guys like I have to.”
Watch the clip below:
Here's the clip of Jane Campion's speech#CriticsChoiceAwards pic.twitter.com/pucAsmE2JF
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) March 14, 2022
Campion’s comments quickly trended on Sunday night after many journalists pointed out how distasteful they were to the Williams sisters.
“There was no need to disrespect and diminish Serena and Venus Williams by Jane Campion. Is the ‘win’ better because Black women didn’t get it?” said Stephanie Guerilus, ABC News’ Digital News Editor, on Twitter.
The BBC’s Gender and Identity correspondent Megha Mohan wrote on Twitter, “Jane Campion, daughter of famous New Zealand theatre director Richard Campion & actress Edith Campion MBE, explains the challenges of being a white woman from an established family to Venus and Serena Williams.”
A reminder of what Venus and Serena had to compete against. pic.twitter.com/7OSQVgTpx0
— blktechwarrior ?? (@blktechwarrior) March 14, 2022
and
— Britni Danielle (@BritniDWrites) March 14, 2022
and
This was so unnecessary and petty. She doesn't have to put down Serena and Venus to build her own accomplishment up. I just don't understand it. Where is her filter? or brain? https://t.co/I5IPGSRScc
— Nina (Mercurial Rafan) (@Nina201710) March 14, 2022
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???????? truly so baffled at this??? why bring them up at all?? you’re a director and they’re world class athletes??? like i actually cannot wrap my head around what was going on in her empty brain when she thought to say this?? https://t.co/ibWWyojsQ2
— justin jefferson’s gf (@babyk444) March 14, 2022
and
The extra violence of Jane Campion's behavior & her mindset is: not only she put down Venus's + Serena's EPIC accomplishments in Tennis, but she forced them (& others) to applaud her while she did that bc if V&S don't applaud, they'll be called angry Black women & non-feminists https://t.co/sI93yq2ez9
— ⚡?Candicanes=Fans of Candice Patton⚡ (@CandicanesU) March 14, 2022
The audacity of some people never ceases to amaze us. Comment your thoughts below!
