'Power of the Dog' Director Jane Campion Offers Apology to Venus, Serena Williams

"The Power of the Dog" director Jane Campion may have read actor Sam Elliott for filth over Elliott's disparagement of her film, but she offered an apology in her turn for a remark she made about Venus and Serena Williams, Variety reported.

"I made a thoughtless comment equating what I do in the film world with all that Serena Williams and Venus Williams have achieved," the acclaimed New Zealand filmmaker said in a statement.

Variety detailed that "while accepting the best director prize at the 2022 Critics Choice Awards" for "The Power of the Dog," Campion addressed Venus and Serena Williams – who "were in attendance at the ceremony in support of the film 'King Richard,' which won Will Smith the prize for best actor for his portrayal of their father, Richard Williams" – with the jocular comment, "Venus and Serena, you're such marvels. However, you don't play against the guys, like I have to."

Campion, 67, is the only female director to have been nominated twice for the Academy Award for Best Director – once for her 1993 film "The Piano," and again in the current Oscars race for 2021's "The Power of the Dog."

"I did not intend to devalue these two legendary Black women and world-class athletes," Campion said in her statement.

"The fact is the Williams sisters have, actually, squared off against men on the court (and off), and they have both raised the bar and opened doors for what is possible for women in this world," Campion added. "The last thing I would ever want to do is minimize remarkable women. I love Serena and Venus. Their accomplishments are titanic and inspiring. Serena and Venus, I apologize and completely celebrate you."

Campion's gaffe came not long after her unfiltered March 12 response to comments American actor Sam Elliott had made about "The Power of the Dog" on a recent podcast.

Elliott had dismissed the film as a "piece of shit" and slammed it for what he called the film's "allusions of homosexuality."

Campion responded in comments to Variety, telling the entertainment publication that Elliott was "a little bit of a bitch," and saying that she found his remarks to be "sexist."

Elliott followed up on his comments by acting as though he had never uttered them, saying to UK newspaper The Daily Mail, "What are you talking about?"

Added Elliott: "I don't know anything about it."