The Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence found himself on the receiving end of some bitter backlash from fans after describing Jennifer Lawrence’s character in the hit trilogy as ‘asexual’.
Lawrence, 52, made the odd observation about Hunger Games protagonist Katniss Everdeen while discussing the differences between her and the leading lady in upcoming prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Lucy Gray, who is played by controversial Snow White star Rachel Zegler.
Comparing the two fictional characters, Lawrence say that Gray is the ‘anti-Katniss’, before continuing: ‘Katniss was an introvert and a survivor. She was quite quiet and stoic, you could almost say [she was] asexual.
He went on to say, ‘Lucy Gray is the opposite. She wears her sexuality on her sleeve, [and] she really is a performer.’
Fans of the popular dystopian franchise were quick to take aim at Lawrence’s view of Katniss, slamming him for calling attention to her sexuality, particularly given the fact that she was just 16 years old at the start of the series – and ‘living in a dystopia’.
Hunger Games fans took issue with how director Francis Lawrence recently described beloved protagonist Katniss Everdeen
‘i don’t think Katniss was asexual. Katniss was a 16yo living in a dystopia that regularly sent kids to slaughter for sport. she sort of spends 3 entire books grappling w that fact,’ one person tweeted.
Another wrote, ‘Katniss was a traumatized teen used as a pawn both in a k!lling game for the entertainment of the “higher” society AND in a revolution by the “good guys.”
‘She didn’t have much time or choice to express herself’
‘Asexual? Katniss was in a raffle where she was put out to be slaughtered, and had a 1 in 12 chance of survival,’ a third chimed in.
They added: ‘Not once, but twice, while being a pawn in a political war. She was on the edge of deaths door in 3 novels, getting her lil kat purred was not on her priority list.’
Others didn’t appreciate that he used her more introverted traits as an explanation as to why she may be asexual.
Francis Lawrence claimed that Katniss – portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence in the films – was ‘almost asexual.’ He also attributed this to her introverted traits, calling her ‘quiet’ and ‘stoic’
Fans didn’t appreciate the comparison nor the fact that he described Katniss as ‘asexual,’ given her age and circumstances during the Hunger Games novels
‘Stoic/introverted ≠ asexual. katniss was a literal child forced to fight for her life, repeatedly,’ one fan of the franchise wrote.
They continued: ‘Not only did she have much more important things to tend to than sex, like surviving, but she also didn’t want to bring anyone else into her life while it was so unsafe.’
‘Sick and tired of people calling asexual to any character that is a little but introvert and is not talking/thinking about sex 24/7,’ another tweeted.
They added: ‘katniss was too busy trying to survive and save his family to be thinking about sex, that doesn’t mean she was asexual, shut tf up.’
Some felt that the nature of the books didn’t allow for a true exploration of her sexuality and therefore it isn’t right for Lawrence to come to the conclusion on his own.
‘Whether katniss is ace or not has nothing to do w how she behaves as a teenager in the middle of a war…?’ one fan explained.
‘Yeah she Could be ace but we wouldnt Know that bc its not like she has the time for self-discovery?? + you can be ace & like looking sexy like that has nothing to do with it,’ they added.
Another advocate penned, ‘I’m all for aspec representation but let’s not misrepresent it. Asexuality is not abstinence, and Katniss was a survivor in a dystopian world.
Director Lawrence claimed The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes protagonist Lucy ‘wore her sexuality on her sleeve’
Others didn’t appreciate that he used her more introverted traits as an explanation as to why she may be asexual
‘She wasn’t worried about having sex, she was worried about not being killed. Also if she was asexual you should’ve put it in the film.’
Others took issue with Katniss being sexualized since she was a minor and it wasn’t the main vocal point of the books.
‘???? the character of katniss was 16 and living thru a literal apocalypse while fighting the powers that be. and she wasn’t sexy enough for you?’ one user asked.
‘their sexualities isn’t even the point of their stories why are these directors obsessed with them when the book material is so rich and they could give attention on so many things?’ Another asked.
‘All they care about is how Katniss wasn’t h0rny 100% of the time… dude people around her died.’
Others blamed the director and his gender for the comparison he made.
‘only a male director would describe it like that PLEASE like why are you sexualizing their behavior when THE POINT is that they’re children,’ one fan of the books penned.
‘The main difference is that lucy was a performer katniss was known for being unable to do that exact thing.’
Another wrote, ‘Pretty sure Katniss was more worried about surviving the game than being sexual… men need to shut up.’
!['Katniss was an introvert and a survivor. She was quite quiet and stoic, you could almost say [she was] asexual,' director Lawrence said of Jennfer Lawrence's character](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/30/17/74878401-12461403-image-a-31_1693413615162.jpg)
‘Katniss was an introvert and a survivor. She was quite quiet and stoic, you could almost say [she was] asexual,’ director Lawrence said of Jennfer Lawrence’s character
Others resented the fact that the director even felt the need to compare Katniss and Lucy
Others resented the fact that the director even felt the need to compare Katniss and Lucy.
‘I don’t recall Lucy wearing sexuality on her sleeve in the books,’ one user wrote. ‘And Katniss doesn’t give off asexual vibes. She was a teenager under a lot of stress…’
‘What do their sexualities have anything to do with their stories,’ another asked.
‘If katniss didn’t think about that it’s bc she had bigger issues like trying not to get killed and there’s not even anything sexual in tbosas.’
‘Kind of an odd take about teenage girls in active war,’ a third expressed.
They then went on to site a specific moment in the novel, stating, ‘Katniss is not asexual and her thoughts on the beach with peeta prove it, shes extremely traumatised and in survival mode, however.
‘And none of lucy’s performances or stunts ever had a sexual undertone to me,’ they added.
The movie featuring Zegler’s character, Lucy, is set to hit theaters on November 17
The Hunger Games trilogy, written by Suzanne Collins, became such a hit that they each got a movie adaption
In the first Hunger Games movie, Katniss is forced to fight in her first Hunger Games after her sister Prim’s name was drawn and she took her place
The movie featuring Zegler’s character, Lucy, is set to hit theaters on November 17.
The film features Coriolanus Snow before he becomes the cruel president of Panem as he mentors Lucy in the tenth annual Hunger Games.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was published in 2020 and served as a spin-off to the Hunger Games trilogy.
The Hunger Games trilogy, written by Suzanne Collins, became such a hit that they each got a movie adaption.
In the first Hunger Games movie, Katniss is forced to fight in her first Hunger Games after her sister Prim’s name was drawn and she took her place.
In The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Katniss is forced to compete again after a surprise twist sees previous victors entering the arena.
For the final instalments, Mockingjay part one and two, Katniss finds herself aligned with a rebellion whose goal is to overthrow the current regime forcing children to take part in their cruel, deadly games.
