David O'Russell: 

“I personally think they should give her a bit of breathing room over there because they’re printing money,” he told the Daily News last month. “But she’s a very alive person.

“I’ll tell you what it is about that girl — talk about 12 years of slavery, that’s what the franchise is. And I’m going to get in so much trouble for saying that,” he said.

Yeah, that was not a good thing to say.

Jennifer Lawrence is very fortunate to have the Hunger Games franchise.

Indentured servitude!  [cracks whip] reference: Shia Labeouf 

It was just a cynical remark, built upon knowledge of the forces at play when you have a multi-billion dollar franchise/business/behemoth and its aggressively protective rights holders, depending on/resting on the shoulders of this key person (one of an ensemble, but clearly the most important one now). 

Unfortunately, its also her own 'fault' for committing to schedules so tight.  BUT you should be this aggressive when you're young and doing exactly what you're good at and want to be.  So said Zuck at Startupschool 2005: "The Importance of Being Young and Technical"