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Scarlett Johansson faces backlash in transgender-casting controversy
Scarlett Johansson has been criticized for her new upcoming role as a transgender man in the biopic 'Rub & Tug'.
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Actress Scarlett Johansson at the World Premiere of 'Avengers: Infinity War' in Hollywood, California on April 23. Johansson has been criticized for her new upcoming role as a transgender man in the biopic 'Rub & Tug'. (AFP/Frederic J. Brown)
T
he announcement that actress Scarlett Johansson will play transgender man Dante "Tex" Gill in the biopic Rub & Tug has been met with criticism.
“Actors who are trans never even get to audition FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN ROLES OF TRANS CHARACTERS,” tweeted trans actress Jamie Clayton, who was in Netflix’s Sense8, in a now-viral tweet.
Actors who are trans never even get to audition FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN ROLES OF TRANS CHARACTERS. THATS THE REAL ISSUE. WE CANT EVEN GET IN THE ROOM. Cast actors WHO ARE TRANS as NON TRANS CHARACTERS. I DARE YOU #RupertSanders @NewRegency #ScarlettJohansson https://t.co/RkrW8MeGcG
— Jamie Clayton (@MsJamieClayton) July 4, 2018
Other trans actors took to Twitter with similar messages.
"Oh word?? So you can continue to play us but we can't play y'all?" tweeted Trace Lysette, who is known for her role in Amazon’s Transparent. "I wouldn't be as upset if I was getting in the same rooms as Jennifer Lawrence and Scarlett for cis roles, but we know that's not the case. A mess."
Oh word?? So you can continue to play us but we can’t play y’all? Hollywood is so fucked... I wouldn’t be as upset if I was getting in the same rooms as Jennifer Lawrence and Scarlett for cis roles, but we know that’s not the case. A mess. https://t.co/s8gBlBI1Sw
— Trace Lysette (@tracelysette) July 4, 2018
“And not only do you play us and steal our narrative and our opportunity but you pat yourselves on the back with trophies and accolades for mimicking what we have lived . . . so twisted. I'm so done," she added.
Read also: Scarlett Johansson auditioned to be Tom Cruise’s girlfriend?
Upon being asked for a comment, a representative of Johansson told Bustle, "Tell [the critics] that they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman's reps for comment."
All three actors are cisgender actors who have portrayed transgender characters: Tambor in Transparent, Leto in Dallas Buyers Club and Huffman in Transamerica.
As a result of the trouble transgender actors go through in Hollywood to find work, many believe that cisgender actors should not be cast in trans roles.
This controversy is not Johansson’s first, as she met with hostility when it was announced that she would play an Asian woman in Ghost in the Shell.
"Dear Hollywood, here are the rules we the Trans decided: Until the world stops erasing/oppressing/murdering us, trans women play trans women, trans men play trans men, nonbinary people play NB people," tweeted transgender actress and activist Jen Richards.
Dear Hollywood, here are the rules we the Trans decided: Until the world stops erasing/oppressing/murdering us, trans women play trans women, trans men play trans men, nonbinary people play NB people. If your project needs a “star” for financing, then it’s simply not good enough.
— Jen Richards (@SmartAssJen) July 3, 2018
"If your project needs a 'star' for financing, then it's simply not good enough." (sul/wng)
