Meryl Streep is facing backlash for appearing on Time Out London wearing a shirt with the phrase, "I'd rather be a rebel than a slave" while promoting her new film, Suffragette.
Although the statement is taken from a speech delivered by Emmeline Pankhurst, the British suffragette and character played by Streep, critics believe it was insensitive for Streep to wear the shirt given the United States' past with the Confederate rebels and slavery.
Time Out London released a statement in response to the criticism which said, "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."
The magazine also noted that the feature had been online for a week and was read by half a million people in the U.K. without a single complaint.
As we previously reported, the film is expected to be an Oscar contender and will be released on Oct. 23.