Angela Lansbury Says Women “Must Sometimes Take Blame” for Sexual Harassment

An online backlash erupted against Angela Lansbury on Tuesday after the Murder, She Wrote star made controversial comments regarding sexual harassment. 

Speaking to the U.K.’s Radio Times magazine, the 92-year-old, who is starring in the BBC’s new adaptation of Little Women, shifted some of the blame away from the attackers. 

“We have to own up to the fact that women, since time immemorial, have gone out of their way to make themselves attractive,” she said. “And unfortunately it has backfired on us — and this is where we are today.”

Lansbury added: “We must sometimes take blame, women. I really do think that. Although it’s awful to say we can’t make ourselves look as attractive as possible without being knocked down and raped.”

Although the actress was at pains to point that the fault didn’t lie with with individual victims, asserting that women “shouldn’t have to be” prepared for harassment, and that “there’s no excuse for that,” that didn’t stop Lansbury’s comments from quickly trending on Twitter, with many firing back. 

Lansbury’s rep has not yet responded to The Hollywood Reporter‘s request for comment.

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