Filmmaker Jane Campion apologized to tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams on Monday, saying she did not mean “to devalue these two legendary black women.”
While accepting the Best Director prize, Campion went viral with an acceptance speech at the Critic’s Choice Awards on Sunday, lauding actor Will Smith on his Best Actor win for his performance in the film King Richard, in which he plays the father of the Williams sisters. She then said the tennis legends themselves “don’t play against the guys, like I have to.”
The Power of the Dog director apologized to the tennis stars for her “thoughtless comment” on Monday, saying she loved the two sisters and described their achievements as “titanic and inspiring,” according to Indiewire.
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“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,” Campion said. “The last thing I would ever want to do is minimize remarkable women.”
As of Monday afternoon, Serena and Venus Williams have not addressed Campion’s apology on social media. However, Venus Williams was seen posing with Campion at a Netflix after-party following the Critics Choice Awards on Sunday.
The Power of the Dog, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, and Jesse Plemons, has been nominated for 12 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Actor and Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
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King Richard has been nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Film, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Original Screenplay.
