British actress Alice Eve (Star
Trek: Into Darkness) has apologized for two Instagram posts
directed at Olympian Bruce Jenner.
In a two-hour ABC special broadcast
Friday, Jenner told Diane Sawyer that he identifies as female.
(Related: Bruce
Jenner says he identifies as female.)
“If you were a woman no one would
have heard of you because women can't compete in the decathlon,”
Eve wrote in the since-deleted posts, according to the BBC. “You
would be a frustrated young athlete who wasn't given a chance.”
“Until women are paid the same as
men, then playing at being a 'woman' while retaining the benefits of
being a man is unfair. Do you have a vagina? Are you paid less than
men? Then, my friend, you are a woman.”
The comments sparked a backlash on
social media.
“I deeply apologize for offending
anyone,” Eve said. “I support equal rights and equal dignity for
all. I have deep compassion and support for Bruce Jenner. My
intention was not to offend. My intention was simply to express
that, with the overdue and welcome acceptance of us all living on a
gender spectrum, we must encourage equality for all.”