Sophie Turner defends Sansa’s assault scene in Game of Thrones: "Didn’t shy away from showing atrocities that happened to women back then"

Sophie Turner defends Sansa’s assault scene in Game of Thrones: "Didn’t shy away from showing atrocities that happened to women back then"

Game of Thrones may have concluded in 2019, but some of its most debated storylines remain a point of conversation. Among them is the controversial Season 5 scene where Sansa Stark, played by Sophie Turner, was sexually assaulted by Ramsay Bolton on their wedding night. The moment drew widespread backlash for its graphic nature and deviation from George R.R. Martin’s novels, with many accusing the show of exploiting violence against women.

Now, years later, Turner has addressed the controversy in an interview with Flaunt, offering her perspective on why she believes the scene had value despite the criticism.
“I did feel – and still do – that Game of Thrones shone a light on things that many people were like, ‘Oh god, you can’t show that kind of thing,’” Turner said. “I understand it can be triggering – I totally understand that point of view. But I did feel we were actually doing a lot of justice to women and the fight women have had to fight for hundreds of thousands of years, the patriarchy, being treated as objects, and being constantly sexually assaulted. I don’t think there’s one woman I know who hasn’t had a form of that.”

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Turner acknowledged that if the series aired today, additional measures such as trigger warnings would likely have been used. Still, she expressed pride in how the show confronted such issues head-on. “I’m really proud to have been a part of Game of Thrones where they didn’t shy away from showing atrocities that happened to women back then,” she explained. “I feel proud to have been part of the conversation.”

The Season 5 episode, titled “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken,” remains one of the show’s most divisive moments. While some argued it crossed a line, others noted how Sansa’s eventual rise to power highlighted her resilience in the face of trauma.