JESSICA CHASTAIN has openly criticised Game of Thrones for appearing to suggest women need to be ‘victimised’ in order to discover their inner strength.
The X-Men: Dark Phoenix star made the comments in the wake of the fourth episode of the show’s final season being broadcast.
In the episode, Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) explains how she grew as a person because of the rape and suffering she experienced as the hands of other male characters on the show.
“Without Littlefinger and Ramsay and the rest, I would’ve stayed a little bird all my life,” Stark says in one key scene.
The comment appeared to reference a controversial storyline from the show’s fifth season in which Sansa is sexually assaulted by Ramsay Bolton.
Taking to Twitter, Chastain hit out at the storyline and treatment of Turner’s character on the series.
“Rape is not a tool to make a character stronger,” she tweeted.
“A woman doesn’t need to be victimized in order to become a butterfly. The #littlebird was always a Phoenix. Her prevailing strength is solely because of her. And her alone.#GameOfThrones.”
Rape is not a tool to make a character stronger. A woman doesn’t need to be victimized in order to become a butterfly. The #littlebird was always a Phoenix. Her prevailing strength is solely because of her. And her alone.#GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/TVIyt8LYxI
— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) May 7, 2019
The comments come as Chastain continues to promote the new X-Men film which she is starring in alongside Turner.
Game of Thrones writer/producer Bryan Cogman has long defended the contentious storyline, explaining that Sansa’s assault at the hands of Ramsay was “the only realistic choice” given the forced nature of their nuptials.
“We made the decision to not shy away from what would realistically happen on that wedding night with these two characters, and the reality of the situation, and the reality of this particular world,” he said.
“Yes, it would have been hugely satisfying [for Sansa] to have a shiv up her sleeve and gut Ramsay, but that’s not Sansa. We can’t all be Arya. Most people in that situation, they have to play a longer game.”
