Angela Lansbury is facing backlash after sharing controversial opinions on sexual harassment in an interview with The Telegraph. The “Murder She Wrote” actress was asked about the recent harassment allegations plaguing Hollywood, to which she said that sometimes women are to blame for sexual harassment because ” they go out of their way to make themselves attractive” to men.
“We must sometimes take blame, women. I really do think that,” Lansbury said. “Although it’s awful to say we can’t make ourselves look as attractive as possible without being knocked down and raped.”
“There are two sides to this coin,” she continued. “We have to own up to the fact that women, since time immemorial, have gone out of their way to make themselves attractive. And unfortunately it has backfired on us — and this is where we are today…Should women be prepared for this? No, they shouldn’t have to be. There’s no excuse for that. And I think it will stop now – it will have to. I think a lot of men must be very worried at this point.”
Lansbury’s comment goes against many of the women in Hollywood who have condemned executives like Harvey Weinstein and actors such as Kevin Spacey for alleged harassment and abuse. While the actress certainly isn’t defending the actions of the harassers, her opinion that women are to blame in some circumstances is drawing ire from fans on social media.
Oh, Angela Lansbury.
No, girl. Just no.
1) Rapists don’t rape because of the way we dress. They rape to exert power over women. It has nothing to do with how we look.
2) It’s never the woman’s fault. Never.
3) I agree that “men must be very worried”.https://t.co/KD06V7wjJM pic.twitter.com/mx9A5FZVTb
— Holly O’Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) November 28, 2017
Angela Lansbury went 92 years without being controversial but decided victim-blaming was the opinion to throw herself under the bus over. pic.twitter.com/WrRKsT5vOg
— Hanna Flint (@HannaFlint) November 28, 2017
Let’s do international treasure Angela Lansbury the very great favour of ignoring her on this one.
— Helen O’Hara (@HelenLOHara) November 28, 2017
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