Jennifer Lawrence says she chose to be cold as she attacks 'ridiculous' feminists for criticising her revealing dress

Jennifer Lawrence has hit out at feminist campaigners who criticised her for wearing a revealing dress in the cold London air, calling them "ridiculous".

The actress defended her right to wear a skimpy Versace dress as she stood next to men, who were all wearing jackets.

Writer Helen Lewis attracted thousands of retweets when she wrote: "This is such a quietly depressing (and revealing) image. Not least because I've been outside today and it's b----- FREEZING."

Peep Show's Robert Webb tweeted: "To all those saying JL ‘chose’ to wear that dress: fine but that choice has a context. She could have made a different decision but we can agree on one thing: it’s not a decision to which the blokes had to give the slightest thought."

He added: "When Ryan Gosling gets paid to model Versace’s latest mankini we’ll have a conversation about equality & human bodies as decoration."

However, Lawrence responded: "This is not only utterly ridiculous, I am extremely offended. That Versace dress was fabulous, you think I'm going to cover that gorgeous dress up with a coat and a scarf? I was outside for 5 minutes. I would have stood in the snow for that dress because I love fashion and that was my choice.

"This is sexist, this is ridiculous, this is not feminism. Over- reacting about everything someone says or does, creating controversy over silly innocuous things such as what I choose to wear or not wear, is not moving us forward. It's creating silly distractions from real issues. Get a grip people. Everything you see me wear is my choice. And if I want to be cold THATS MY CHOICE TOO!"

However, not everyone agreed, with many arguing the men and women should be wearing the same amount of clothing in the cold weather.

One angered Twitter user wrote: "It must be about 3 degrees in London ATM, cold enough that the bloke actors have to wear coats and scarves to their press call and yet poor Jennifer Lawrence is wearing a small amount of fabric some might call a dress."

Broadcaster Shelagh Fogarty tweeted: "Oh ridiculous. And ungallant as well."

The Versace gown featured a thigh-high split and many said it was reminiscent of Liz Hurley's famous dress, which was held together by safety pins.