Olivia Newton-John hits back at critics who complained the themes in Grease are problematic – Daily Mail

Olivia Newton-John has spoken out after online critics took offence to her 1978 movie, Grease, following a recent airing of the film in the UK.

Speaking on the podcast, A Life of Greatnes‪s‬, on Tuesday, the 72-year-old singer and actress branded the backlash ‘silly’.  

‘In this particular instance I think it’s kind of silly,’ she began. 

‘The movie was made in the ’70s about the ’50s. It was a stage play, it’s a musical, it’s fun, it’s a fun movie musical, and not to be taken so seriously. I think everyone’s taking everything so seriously. 

‘We need to relax a little bit and just enjoy things for what they are. I didn’t see it like that at all, and I think it’s just a fun movie that entertains people, that’s all.’

Twitter users accused the film of being sexist and ‘a bit rapey’ following a television screening on Boxing Day in the UK. 

‘Ahhh man. Just watching #Grease one of my favourite films and it’s so of its time. Misogynistic, sexist and a bit rapey,’ tweeted one person.

Many viewers criticised Olivia’s character, Sandy, for changing her appearance to win over John Travolta’s character, Danny.

Others complained about a scene where one of the characters hid under a sports field bleacher so he could look up girls’ skirts.

Viewers also slammed a lyric in the song, Summer Nights, where Danny’s friends ask him about his romance with Sandy: ‘Tell me more, tell me more. Did she put a fight?’

Some people criticised the film’s lack of diversity, with one viewer arguing that it was ‘full of white people’. 

Others also complained that Rizzo, another character in the film, was ‘s**t-shamed’ after she discovered she was pregnant.