Patty Jenkins Responds To James Cameron Calling Wonder Woman ‘A Step Backwards’

“Wonder Woman” director Patty Jenkins recently responded to James Cameron, who said during an interview that the film was “a step backwards.”

On her Twitter account, the director slammed Cameron for not understanding “Wonder Woman” and what it stands for for women across the globe. Jenkins also emphasized the fact that even though Cameron could be regarded as a “great filmmaker, he is not a woman.”

During his recent interview with The Guardian, Cameron criticized how Hollywood and fans have embraced the Gal Gadot-starrer. “She’s an objectified icon, and it’s just male Hollywood doing the same old thing. I’m not saying I didn’t like the movie, but to me, it’s a step backwards,” he said.

The “Terminator 2” director also praised the lead character in his film, Sarah Connor, and said that she was not a beauty icon unlike Wonder Woman, making her more relatable. “She was wrong, she was troubled, she was a terrible mother, and she earned the respect of the audience through pure grit,” he said.

But Jenkins didn’t share Cameron’s ideals of what a lead female character should be. In her tweet, she said that women shouldn’t always be depicted as “strong yet damaged.” Jenkins strongly stated that “women can and should be everything just like male characters should be.”

Meanwhile, Jenkins also referenced Cameron’s praise for her 2003 film, “Monster,” in which Charlize Theron played the role of a serial killer named Aileen Wuornos. Theron won an Academy Award for best actress for her portrayal. “His praise for my film and our portrayal of a strong yet damaged woman was so appreciated,” Jenkins said.

As of late, Cameron has not yet responded to Jenkins’ tweet, but several fans have showed their support for the director. Others have also reacted negatively to Cameron’s statements and even called him “sexist,” according to Variety. One Jenkins supporter claimed that Cameron may just be mad over the fact that a woman beat him and his film “Avatar.”

Another fan said Jenkins’ response to Cameron’s unsolicited criticism seemed like the best “thanks but no thanks” answer they have ever seen.

“Wonder Woman” was dubbed as one of this year’s biggest films after it earned more than $750 million worldwide, according to Forbes.