Julie Delpy is backtracking on some controversial statements she made at the Sundance Film Festival yesterday in response to a question about the lack of diversity in this year’s Oscar nominees.
“Two years ago, I said something about the Academy being very white male, which is the reality, and I was slashed to pieces by the media,” she said yesterday, reports Entertainment Weekly. “It’s funny — women can’t talk. I sometimes wish I were African-American, because people don’t bash them afterward.”
She added, “It’s the hardest to be a woman. Feminists is something people hate above all. Nothing worse than being a woman in this business. I really believe that.”
Following backlash, Delpy released a statement of apology to EW. “I’m very sorry for how I expressed myself,” she said. “It was never meant to diminish the injustice done to African American artists or to any other people that struggle for equal opportunities and rights, on the contrary. All I was trying to do is to address the issues of inequality of opportunity in the industry for women as well (as I am a woman). I never intended to underestimate anyone else’s struggle! We should stay alert and united and support each other to change this unfair reality and don’t let anyone sabotage our common efforts by distorting the truth.”
Related: Charlotte Rampling Clarifies Comments About Oscar Boycott Being “Racist To White People’
Delpy concluded: “Again I’m so sorry for this unfortunate misunderstanding, people who know me, know very well that I can’t stand inequality and injustice of any kind.”
