Jennifer Lawrence recently found herself in the midst of a social media storm following a candid interview with Viola Davis for Variety magazine.
In the interview, the 32-year-old actress opened up about the pressures of her role in 'The Hunger Games,' the challenges of growing up in Hollywood, the misconceptions in the media, and the negatives of motherhood.
The interview, which lasted over 40 minutes, contained a small segment that quickly gained attention on social media. Jennifer Lawrence discussed her feelings about being cast as a female lead in an action film, particularly 'The Hunger Games.'
"I remember when I was doing 'The Hunger Games,' no one had put a woman in the lead of an action movie. They told us it wouldn't work. Both girls and boys can relate to a male protagonist, but boys can't relate to a female protagonist," Lawrence remarked.
As expected, social media users chimed in, categorizing Jennifer's statements as "controversial." Despite her reference to the advice she received from colleagues at the time, users focused on the assertion that she was the first woman to headline an action film.
"Lara Croft Tomb Raider, Kill Bill, Charlie's Angels, Resident Evil, Salt, Haywire, Wanted... I mean…"; "The fact that they can only think of the same handful of highly protagonists compared to the MANY male-led actions... is only furthering their point"; "She was not the first female lead in an action film. It's like lol"; "What about Angelina Jolie in Lara Croft?" – these were just a few of the comments seen on TikTok.
In the wake of the controversy, Jennifer Lawrence spoke with The Hollywood Reporter to clarify her remarks. She stated, "That's definitely not what I meant at all. I know I'm not the only woman who has starred in an action movie. What I wanted to highlight was how great it feels. I meant that with Viola: overcoming these outdated myths you hear about... the chatter you'd hear about that sort of thing. But it was my mistake, and it didn't come across right. I was nervous talking to a living legend."
