Earlier this week, the internet whipped itself into a mild state of frenzy over a photo of Jennifer Lawrence attending a chilly London photo shoot in a skimpy dress, as her male Red Sparrow co-stars stood around her, rugged up in warm jackets.
Lawrence hit back at speculation that she was somehow forced out into the cold against her will, calling it “sexist and ridiculous”, and saying that she’ll wear whatever damn outfit she pleases. Now, as the news cycle churns on, her co-star Joel Edgerton has offered his two cents.
Speaking with News Corp, the actor dryly commented:
“I don’t know that Jen gets up and checks the weather. Maybe that’s the problem. Maybe she needs another person to check the weather for her. And besides, you didn’t see the bikini that I was going to wear … But if you’re asking me why I didn’t give Jen my coat, I was scared the designer [Versace] was going to hate my guts for covering up the beautiful dress.”
The actor went on to say that he and J-Law joked around between themselves before the shoot, anticipating that a photo of her in a dress next to men in large coats might be controversial. He also speculated that, had she been dressed differently, there may still have been complaints:
“[There] is a certain expectation for women [to look glamorous]. And look, I am sure there are a bunch of people who would have found reason to criticise it if Jen was wearing a pair of Levi’s or track pants and a duffel coat.”
In a Facebook post earlier this week, Jennifer Lawrence defended her own choice of outfit and hit back at the ensuing commentary, saying:
This is not only utterly ridiculous, I am extremely offended. That Versace dress was fabulous, you think I’m going to cover that gorgeous dress up with a coat and a scarf? I was outside for 5 minutes. I would have stood in the snow for that dress because I love fashion and that was my choice.
This is sexist, this is ridiculous, this is not feminism. Over-reacting about everything someone says or does, creating controversy over silly innocuous things such as what I choose to wear or not wear, is not moving us forward. It’s creating silly distractions from real issues. Get a grip people. Everything you see me wear is my choice. And if I want to be cold THAT’S MY CHOICE TOO!
