Jane Campion has tendered a public apology to Venus and Serena Williams for comments made during her Critics’ Choice Awards acceptance speech.
“I made a thoughtless comment equating what I do in the film world with all that Serena Williams and Venus Williams have achieved,” she said in a statement to Variety. “I did not intend to devalue these two legendary Black women and world-class athletes.”
Jane continued, “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. I love Serena and Venus. Their accomplishments are titanic and inspiring. Serena and Venus, I apologize and completely celebrate you.”
