Golden Globes 2016: Anne Hathaway defends Jennifer Lawrence over exchange with journalist

Anne Hathaway defended Jennifer Lawrence's exchange with a reporter at a Golden Globes press conference. The Hunger Games actress lashed out at the journalist for being on his phone while asking a question.

Lawrence won the best actress award in the category of comedy motion pictures for her film Joy. She told the reporter: "You can't live your whole life behind your phone, bro. You can't do that. You've got to live in the now."

After he apologised, the reporter went on to ask about the Academy Awards when Lawrence interrupted him. She said: "We're at the Golden Globes. If you put your phone down you'd know that."

Following the incident, the 25-year-old actress faced a backlash for her behaviour, with some calling her rude. However, Hathaway, the Interstellar actress, took to Facebook to lend her support to Lawrence.

"Dear the internet, It's become pretty clear that the Jennifer Lawrence 'scolding' was taken out of context and that she was dryly joking with a journalist who was indeed using his phone to take photos of her," she wrote. "Let's not continue the sad but common practice of building people –especially women – up just to viciously tear them down when we perceive them to have misstepped. Jennifer is a beautiful, talented, wildly successful, popular, FOUR-TIME OSCAR NOMINATED young woman. Please let us not punish her for these things. Sincerely, A J-Law fan ‪#‎supportstrongwomen‬ ‪#‎imwithher‬ ‪#‎whycantwegiveloveonemorechance‬"

Separately, Lawrence released a statement after being nominated for the best actress Oscar for her role in Joy. She said in a statement: "I am beyond grateful and humbled by this nomination. I feel incredibly honored to be recognized among the other amazing women in this category."

She continued: "Joy is an incredibly inspiring story about an ordinary woman who does extraordinary things. For me, working with David O. Russell has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I share this nomination with him as well as our incredible supporting cast. I could not be more proud to be a part of this film and thankful to the producers and Fox for their unyielding support."