LOS ANGELES, Nov 29 — Angela Lansbury is facing backlash for saying that women should take “some of the blame” for their encounters with sexual misconduct.
The veteran actress made this statement in a recent interview with Radio Times magazine when asked to comment on the recent sexual scandals sweeping Hollywood. Lansbury weighed in on the topic by also saying taht women have to shoulder part of the blame because they make themselves look good.
“There are two sides to this coin. We have to own up to the fact 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. We must sometimes take blame. Although it’s awful to say we can’t make ourselves look as attractive as possible without being knocked down and raped.
Lansbury added, however, “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.”
Many reacted to Lansbury’s comments on Twitter with fans criticising her viewpoint in an outpouring of disappointed tweets while others came to the star’s defence.
Doesn't matter how old she is or how outdated perhaps her views are this is NEVER ok, and in fact pushes away and reverses any courage a woman might be finally feeling to speak out and speak up against assault and rape.#AngelaLansbury - trending for all the wrong reasons! https://t.co/1k6cgJf6wR
Advertisement— Aimee Davis (@aimeedavis89) November 28, 2017
When you’re glad Angela Lansbury isn’t dead and then see what she’s *actually* trending for#angelalansbury pic.twitter.com/cZ4Hyjsp6V
— Cat (@cat186) November 28, 2017
There's one thing I'm not prepared to do, and it's boycotting "Murder, she wrote" re-runs. So fix it #AngelaLansbury. Thank you.
— Camille Favre (@CamilleFavre1) November 28, 2017
While everyone is rushing to the defence of an old woman who wants to silence and blame victims, who is rushing to the defence of the victims? #AngelaLansbury pic.twitter.com/GryeXLiV57
— Amy Rose (@SushiRollPhan) November 28, 2017
Victim Blaming #AngelaLansbury
— Dave Williams (@realdavedoubleu) November 28, 2017
Murder She Wrote to be re-made as "She Was Asking For It" pic.twitter.com/iobogydLlS
This #AngelaLansbury nonsense is reminding me of the outrage over Chrissie Hynde's book. Not all women have the same views on sexual harassment. We don't all think the same about everything. Deal with it.
— Margaret Coleman (@MargaretC72) November 28, 2017