Meryl Streep “Slave” Shirt Defended By Time Out London — SEE STATEMENT

Time Out London is standing by its decision to feature Meryl Streep and her Suffragette co-stars in t-shirts with the words “I’d Rather Be A Rebel Than A Slave.”

As Extreme Entertainment reported, Streep, along with Carey Mulligan and other cast members, posed for the photo shoot to support a feature the magazine ran on the upcoming movie, which is about the suffrage movement and women’s right to vote. And though the images were published online a week ago, the shot of Streep caused a stir on Twitter Monday, with some of accusing her of being racist or racially insensitive.

The original feature explained that the “I’d Rather Be A Rebel Than A Slave” line was a quote Emmeline Pankhurst, the real-life suffragette Streep plays in the movie. Now Time Out London is elaborating further on its artistic choice in the wake of the backlash. The outlet says in a statement released Tuesday:

“For a recent photoshoot to document Suffragette, the first feature film to tell the story of the violent and historic struggle of women in the UK for equal rights including the right to vote, Time Out London invited the lead actresses fromSuffragette to wear t-shirts with the slogan: ‘I’d rather be a rebel than a slave.’

This is a quote from a 1913 speech given by Emmeline Pankhurst, one of the historic British suffragettes whose fight for equality is portrayed in the movie. The original quote was intended to rouse women to stand up against oppression — it is a rallying cry, and absolutely not intended to criticize those who have no choice but to submit to oppression, or to reference the Confederacy, as some people who saw the quote and photo out of context have surmised.

Pankhurst’s full quote was: ‘I know that women, once convinced that they are doing what is right, that their rebellion is just, will go on, no matter what the difficulties, no matter what the dangers, so long as there is a woman alive to hold up the flag of rebellion. I would rather be a rebel than a slave.’

Time Out published the original feature online and in print in the UK a week ago. The context of the photoshoot and the feature were absolutely clear to readers who read the piece. It has been read by at least half a million people in the UK and we have received no complaints.”

Streep herself has not commented on the uproar, nor has Mulligan. TELL US: What do you think of the controversy and the statement?