Jane Campion raised her eyebrows at the 2022 Critics Choice Awards with a painfully awkward joke comparing herself to Serena and Venus Williams.
Accepting the Dog Power Best Director award at Sunday’s ceremony, Campion went out of her way to note that she was competing with five men, a situation in which she claimed the Williams sisters would never find themselves on the tennis court.
“I would also like to express my love to my fellow guys, the nominees,” she said with a laugh, referring to Paul Thomas Anderson (“Licorice Pizza”), Kenneth Branagh (“Belfast”), Guillermo. del Toro (Nightmare Alley), Steven Spielberg (West Side Story) and Denis Villeneuve (Dune).
“And Serena and Venus, you are such marvels,” Campion continued. “However, you don’t play guys like I should.”
The cameras then switched to 41-year-old Venus, who was awkwardly watching from her seat. Serena, 40, seemed less bothered by the comment as she smiled and clapped her hands. (The sisters attended as guests of Will Smith, who played their father in King Richard.)
Venus seemed to cringe at Campion’s comment. The CW
Campion, 67, ended her speech by saying, “Now I’m like the grandmother of the women’s movement in film. But I’m still here! Thanks!”
Critics flocked to social media to denounce the director for his deaf comment.
“Jane took time out of her best directorial speech to tell two black women that she is more oppressed than them – this is the peak of white feminism,” said actress Jodie Turner-Smith, who attended the event with husband Joshua Jackson. tweeted.
Critics’ Choice: Jane Campion wins! Jane: Thanks. Now let me attack black women going about their own fucking business,” one viewer said. tweeted.
“Ugh… Jane Campion’s train is really short-lived. white women just come after black women without any provocation,” says a second person. wrote.
“Jane Campion really took the stage and decided to rip two black women apart for no fucking reason” – third agreed.
“What Jane Campion said in her speech was neither funny nor appropriate. It was racism. White people laugh and think it’s useless, and it shows why there are still so many stupid problems in this industry. They are fine with random racism because they don’t see racism the way we do” – another tweeted.
However, there didn’t seem to be any hard feelings between the professional tennis players and Campion, as they were seen dancing together at an after-party in New York. photos posted on social networks.
However, it is worth noting that both Venus and Serena have won competitions against male athletes in the past.
Representatives for Campion, Serena and Venus did not immediately respond to Page Six’s requests for comment.