Justice League's Sexualized Amazon Costumes Spark Internet Controversy

Ahead of Justice League‘s highly anticipated premiere later this week, a savvy fan pointed out a major difference between how Wonder Woman‘s Amazonian warrior society’s costumes look in this film versus how they were portrayed in the Wonder Woman film which hit theaters earlier this year.

Based off of images posted on director Zack Snyder’s Vero site, the Amazon warriors’ costumes in Justice League appear far more revealing than they were in director Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman.

“In case you wonder: Here’s a picture of how the Amazons looked in Wonder Woman…next to pic how they look in Justice League. First designed by Lindy Hemming, second by Michael Wilkinson. Some steps backwards, me thinks,” a fan tweeted (below).

Not long after the discovery, fans created an uproar on social media, noting that the costumes in Justice League (designed by a man, in a film directed by a man) sexualized the female actors, while in Wonder Woman (directed by a woman, with costumes designed by a woman) did not appear overtly sexual.

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Another fan, clearly unhappy with Justice League‘s interpretation of the Amazons, shared a side-by-side image of actress Brooke Ence on Twitter, who plays the Amazon warrior Penthesilea in both films, to emphasize the difference between the costumes in each film.

In the photo from Wonder Woman, Ence appears significantly more covered up, wearing a full protective bodice that hides her stomach. Then, in Justice League, Ence sports a bra top revealing her abs, along with brief-like shorts that show much more of her legs than in the previous movie.

“Brooke Ence plays the Amazon warrior Penthesilea in Wonder Woman (left) and Justice League (right). First designed by Lindy Hemming, directed by Patty Jenkins Second designed by Michael Wilkinson, directed by Zack Snyder. People are pretending there’s no difference,” the Twitter user said.

However, another fan of the films pointed out that there were, in fact, some sexier costumes worn in Wonder Woman too. “Look, I’m not a fan of skimpy Amazon costumes, but if you’re going to share the Justice League pic, remember these were their training costumes in Wonder Woman,” she said.

UPDATE 11/15: A Justice League actress and stuntwoman who wore the skimpy Amazon costumes in the film spoke out about the controversy on Twitter and defended director Zack Snyder’s decision to dress the warriors in a more revealing look.

Samantha Jo, the actress who played Amazon warrior Euboea in the DC Comics films (and worked with Snyder on many of this productions in the past), said: “I think that the Amazons (being a race that lives with only other women) should be free to wear as much or as little clothing as each individual wants. And this was reflected in the variations of the armor that was tailored to each individual. I think that the sexualization happens largely in the intent of the creators. In this case. I’ve heard Zack Snyder and Michael Wilkinson’s name being thrown about.”

Jo continued by explaining her experiences with Snyder and costume designer Wilkinson have been nothing but positive. “I have NEVER felt more empowered than I have on Zack Snyder sets. I have never once been told to sand in a pretty way or perform something with more skin or feminine movements. I have been most appreciated for my strong stances and posture in my fighting. I’ve always felt not just comfortable, but confident in what I was wearing and how I was being represented,” she said.

She then addressed the issue that in Wonder Woman, the Amazon warrior costumes did not appear nearly as sexualized as they did in Justice League, which according to Jo “came with a cost.”

“Yes, the Wonder Woman costumes might have covered some women up a little more, but at least with my experience… there was chafing, scrapes, pinched and bruised skin at my shoulder/arm joint, stepping on my leather straps and tripping,” she said. “For practical reasons, I personally was very happy when Michael offered up solutions for my Justice League costume that made me the most comfortable in my work and in my body.”

What do you think about the differences between the two Amazon warrior costumes? Sound off in the comments below.