Ginny and Georgia actress thanks fans for support amid Taylor Swift ‘sexist’ joke controversy

Ginny Miller’s brother played by Diesel La Torraca (left) Ginny’s mother played by Brianne Howey (middle) and Ginny played by Antonia Gentry (right)
Netflix
Leah Sinclair5 March 2021

Ginny And Georgia actress Antonia Gentry has thanked fans for their "voices and inspiration" after Taylor Swift branded a joke her character makes on the Netflix series as "sexist".

In a lengthy post on Instagram, Ms Gentry thanked the people who had contacted her online but did not address the controversy directly.

She said she had received "hundreds" of messages in the last week from viewers who felt "seen, heard and understood" by the comedy-drama series.

She wrote: "Thank you for the love and support you have shown me and our show, Ginny and Georgia, over the last week.

"I never would have imagined something like this as a young girl - that is, having a voice capable of impact. It is so meaningful to see the hundreds of messages from fans in my inbox who feel seen, heard and understood because of the show and its characters.

"It has also been fun to hear from those who were just happy to be along for an entertaining ride."

The actress said she "fell in love" with the character of Ginny Miller because she showed "our own biases, prejudices and injustices".

She added: "She loves, she lies and she stands up for what she believes in - even though she may not have all of her facts straight.

"She makes mistakes - morally, mentally, physically, emotionally - and not just within herself, but within the broken world she lives in.

"I am so delighted to work with talented, earnest and honest women who aren’t afraid of pulling back the curtain and exposing all of life’s intricacies - the good and the bad, all with a glass of wine in hand, and a tongue in cheek.

"To all of the people who have sent hundreds of messages about feeling seen for the first time, whether through Ginny or another character in Ginny and Georgia, thank you for your voices and inspiration".

It comes after Taylor Swift criticised Ginny And Georgia after it featured what she described as a "lazy" and "deeply sexist" joke about her.

In the series finale of the comedy-drama, lead characters Ginny Miller, played by Ms Gentry, and her mother Georgia, played by Brianne Howey, argue about relationships.

Asked whether she had broken up with her boyfriend, Ginny said: "What do you care? You go through men faster than Taylor Swift".

Swift fans, also known as "Swifties", criticised the show and its cast members on social media, with some encouraging a boycott of the series.

One fan tweeted: “I was really enjoying Ginny & Georgia until they had to add the really inappropriate Taylor Swift jab from a character that is supposed to be a feminist”.

Another said: “Okay so I was enjoying Ginny & Georgia until they said that Georgia goes through men faster than Taylor Swift and now I just want to break Netflix”.

Addressing the controversy on Monday, Ms Swift tweeted: "Hey Ginny & Georgia, 2010 called and it wants its lazy, deeply sexist joke back.

"How about we stop degrading hard working women by defining this horse shit as FuNnY.

"Also, @netflix after Miss Americana this outfit doesn’t look cute on you. Happy Women’s History Month I guess".

The singer’s documentary Miss Americana was released on the streaming platform in January 2020 and covered her career over several years using behind the scenes footage.

It also dealt with the way in which her relationships had been scrutinised by the public and press.

The singer has been in a relationship with actor Joe Alwyn since around 2016 and was previously linked with actor Tom Hiddleston and DJ Calvin Harris.

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