Elizabeth Banks apologises to Steven Spielberg after accusing him of anti-female bias

LOS ANGELES: Actress Elizabeth Banks has apologised for calling out director Steven Spielberg for never making movies with female leads.

The 43-year-old actress made the remark when accepting Women in Film's Excellence in Film Award on Tuesday.

"I went to 'Indiana Jones' and 'Jaws' and every movie Steven Spielberg ever made, and by the way, he's never made a movie with a female lead," she said in her speech, before adding, "Sorry, Steven. I don't mean to call your ass out but it's true."

Banks has now issued an apology after many people on social media blasted her, pointing out that she seemed to have forgotten that Spielberg directed 1985 iconic female-driven film "The Color Purple", reported Ace Showbiz.


Elizabeth Banks attends the Women In Film 2017 Crystal and Lucy Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Image: AP)

"I messed up. When referring to Steven Spielberg at the Women in Film awards, I framed my comments about his films inaccurately. I want to be clear from the start that I take full responsibility for what I said and I'm sorry," Banks wrote in the statement.

"When I made the comments, I was thinking of recent films Steven directed, it was not my intention to dismiss the import of the iconic 'The Color Purple'. I made things worse by giving the impression that I was dismissing Shari Belafonte when she attempted to correct me. I spoke with Shari backstage and she was kind enough to forgive me," she continued.

"Those who have the privilege and honour of directing and producing films should be held to account for our mistakes, whether it's about diversity or inaccurate statements. I'm very sorry."