Jane Campion sure walked her comments about Venus and Serena Williams back fast. Addressing her controversial remark about the tennis legends at March 13’s Critics Choice Awards, Campion apologized in a statement through a spokesperson the next day. “I made a thoughtless comment equating what I do in the film world with all that Serena Williams and Venus Williams have achieved,” Campion began, according to CNN. “I did not intend to devalue these two legendary Black women and world class athletes.”
Pointing out the factual inaccuracy of her statement at the ceremony, Campion further noted, “The fact is the Williams sisters have, actually, squared off against men on the court (and off), and they have both raised the bar and opened doors for what is possible for women in this world. The last thing I would ever want to do is minimize remarkable women.” Campion concluded her apology by addressing the Williams sisters directly, saying, “Serena and Venus, I apologize and completely celebrate you.”
Many Twitter users appeared unimpressed by Campion’s quick turnaround, however, with one tweeting, “Less interested in an apology, and more interested in why her brain thought it was ok to make that comment in the first place.”
