Actor’s story about actions while filming Hunger Games movie in Hawaii criticised as ‘disrespectful and inconsiderate’

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Jennifer Lawrence has drawn scathing criticism for an anecdote she told on the BBC, about disrespecting local customs while shooting in Hawaii.

In a recent interview, Lawrence told a story about “butt-scratchin’” on rocks that are considered sacred to native Hawaiians, while shooting The Hunger Games: Catching Fire in 2012.

“There were … sacred … rocks — I dunno, they were ancestors, who knows — they were sacred,” said Lawrence. “And you’re not supposed to sit on them, because you’re not supposed to expose your genitalia to them.



“I, however, was in a wetsuit for this whole shoot – oh my god, they were so good for butt itching!”

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Waving a glass of white wine and at times unable to speak due to laughter, Lawrence said, “one rock that I was butt-scratchin’ on came loose”, prompting a landslide.

“And all the Hawaiians were like: ‘Oh my god, it’s the curse!’” she said, imitating shaking her first at the sky. “And I’m in the corner going, I’m your curse. I wedged it loose with my ass.”

Lawrence was not specific about where or when the incident took place, but Catching Fire was shot at various locations around Hawaii, including Maui, in late 2012.

Removing black sand or lava rocks is thought to cause bad luck under what is known locally as “Pele’s curse”.

She told the anecdote on The Graham Norton Show, where she was promoting her upcoming film Passengers with co-star Chris Pratt, and appearing with Jamie Oliver. (Vox noted that Lawrence shared the same story with Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan in January 2013.)

Though the episode broadcast on 3 December, the clip started drawing criticism online on Wednesday, with social media users condemning Lawrence for her apparently wilful disregard for sacred customs.



The clip has been viewed more than 1m times on BBC One’s Facebook page. A tweet labelling it “the whitest story ever told” had been shared more than 1,000 times.

Glen Coco (@MrPooni) The whitest story ever told. pic.twitter.com/aZb8RQ9e5a

Twitter users were unimpressed as the clip circulated.

gabriela (@miercolesgbr) Jennifer Lawrence: "i literally wiped my ass with sacred symbols of Hawaii"



Everyone: "so quirky. So relatable"

Miiah Fu (@miiahfu) congratulations Jennifer Lawrence, all of Hawaii wants to scrap you. next time respect land that's foreign to you https://t.co/9ezzY906dd

Mowet (@xoxoxMinnie) Jennifer Lawrence saying how she scratched her ass on sacred boulders you aren't supposed to sit on in Hawaii is white ppl in a nutshell

emily (@emmynash_) Why would you knowingly disrespect someone's culture and sacred artifacts and brag about it later? Smh Jennifer Lawrence is beyond cancelled

Angie J. Han (@ajhan) Jennifer Lawrence is bizarrely proud of the fact that she is disrespectful and inconsiderate and put her colleagues at risk of physical harm

Alexis Isabel (@lexi4prez) Another reason Jennifer Lawrence is so annoying. Knowingly messes with something sacred to Hawiians. Then brags and makes a joke about it. https://t.co/EB6VFz0JzN

LEFT✍🏾 (@LeftSentThis) "Hey Hawaiians, I scratched my ass with your sacred stones, broke one, almost killed a man, and 😂 at your spirituality."-Jennifer Lawrence https://t.co/1ihjGuddVy

At time of writing Lawrence had not responded to the criticism.

The actor was 22 when shooting Catching Fire, the second instalment of the Hunger Games franchise that catapulted her to stardom.

In August, she was named film’s best-paid female star for the second consecutive year, with Forbes putting her earnings at US $46m (£34.9m) for 2016. She was also the youngest actor to be listed.