Jennifer Lawrence has hit back at feminist critics of the plunging dress she wore to an outdoor photocall saying “this is not feminism”.

Commentators questioned why the star was wearing a revealing dress outdoors in London on a cold day, while her male co-stars and director wore long trousers and coats. Lawrence has vehemently defended her right to wear the Versace gown at the promotional event for the film Red Sparrow, saying it was “choice”.

The furore started when feminist Helen Lewis tweeted an image of Lawrence in the dress saying “This is such a quietly depressing (and revealing) image. Not least because I’ve been outside today and it’s bloody FREEZING.”

Lawrence responded with a Facebook post saying: “Wow. I don’t really know where to get started on this ‘Jennifer Lawrence wearing a revealing dress in the cold’ controversy.

‘Reaching dreams in the Congo was impossible, in Ireland it’s exciting’

---

Grief counselling by the frozen peas. A story about snowflakes

---

Irishness is a coat you can’t take off, and it can smother you

---

“This is not only utterly ridiculous, I am extremely offended.

“That Versace dress was fabulous, you think I’m going to cover that gorgeous dress up with a coat and a scarf?

“I was outside for five minutes. I would have stood in the snow for that dress because I love fashion and that was my choice.

“This is sexist, this is ridiculous, this is not feminism.

“Over-reacting about everything someone says or does, creating controversy over silly innocuous things such as what I choose to wear or not wear, is not moving us forward.

“It’s creating silly distractions from real issues. Get a grip people. Everything you see me wear is my choice. And if I want to be cold THAT’S MY CHOICE TOO!”

Lawrence has rubbished the claims of gender imbalance, saying they are a “distraction” from the real issues and that the Versace dress with a thigh-high split was her choice.

Helen Lewis reacted to the unfolding story by tweeting: “Essentially, kneejerking to “maybe it’s her choice!” is a good way of ducking a whole discussion of how society shapes and limits our choices. Refugees *choose* to get on rickety boats across the Mediterranean. That doesn’t make it empowering.”

Later Lewis responded to Lawrence’s Facebook by tweeting “FWIW, Jennifer Lawrence (!) has responded to WarmCoatGate. I disagree with the idea that “anything a woman chooses to do” = feminism. Let’s be honest, the whole cycle of this is revealing & depressing. One offhand remark is treated like a MAJOR INTERVENTION because it enables it to become a) viral news fodder featuring endless pix of JLaw; b) an excuse for lots of men to shout at women for being “oversensitive’

Indeed it seems that across the internet the reactions are multiple. Website Jezebel has published an article calling for someone to “Please give Lawrence a dang coat” writing that she seems “rather vulnerable to the elements”. While the hashtag #CoatsForWomen is popping up with one tweeter writing “#CoatsForWomen! (& a good pair of tights)”