Amid her latest film The Power of the Dog getting a lot of attention and big wins during award season, director Jane Campion recently found herself coming under fire. The controversy stems from Campion’s appearance at the Critics Choice Awards. While accepting her award for Best Director, Campion remarked that she was honored to be there with tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams. The sisters were present in support of King Richard, the Will Smith-led biopic centering on their father, which won Smith his award for Best Actor.

During her speech, Campion commented on how all of her fellow nominees for Best Director were men. She then said directly to the Williams sisters, “Venus and Serena, you’re such marvels. However, you don’t play against the guys, like I have to.”

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

These comments resulted in backlash on social media against Campion. The award-winning director was criticized for suggesting that the Williams sisters might have it easy without men as their direct competition. Fans of the tennis legends said this diminished their legacies and said they could just as easily compete with the men in their sport. It has led to Campion issuing a public apology to acknowledge what she said and clarify how she really feels about Venus and Serena Williams.

The Power of the Dog Has Also Been Subject to Controversy

     Netflix

This controversy follows a public trading of barbs between Jane Campion and Sam Elliott. Recently, Elliott criticized The Power of the Dog on Marc Maron’s “WTF” podcast. The actor also suggested Campion knew nothing about the American West based on the way certain characters were portrayed along with her decision to shoot the film in New Zealand. Campion had clapped back with her own harsh response to Elliott.

“I think Sam… Look, what can I say? I’m sorry, he was being a little bit of a B-I-T-C-H,” Campion told Variety. “I’m sorry to say it, but he’s not a cowboy; he’s an actor. The West is a mythic space and there’s a lot of room on the range. You know, I think it’s a little bit sexist, because you think about the number of amazing Westerns that were made in Spain by Sergio Leone. I consider myself a creator, and I think he sees me as a woman, or something less at first, and I don’t appreciate that.”