Scarlett Johansson Drops Out of Transgender Male Role Following Backlash

Scarlett Johansson is dropping out of Rub & Tug, a film in which she was cast to play a transgender man, after receiving extreme backlash from the LGBTQ+ community. She announced the news on Friday (July 13).

“I have great admiration and love for the trans community and am grateful that the conversation regarding inclusivity in Hollywood continues,” she said in a statement to Out.com.  “While I would have loved the opportunity to bring Dante’s story and transition to life, I understand why many feel he should be portrayed by a transgender person, and I am thankful that this casting debate, albeit controversial, has sparked a larger conversation about diversity and representation in film.”

The actress was cast to play Dante Tex Gill, a real-life transgender massage parlor owner. The film is being directed by Rupert Sanders, who also helmed 2017's Ghost in the Shell, which starred Johansson in another controversial role—Japanese manga character, Major Motoko Kusanagi. 

Read the rest of her statement below:

In light of recent ethical questions raised surrounding my casting as Dante Tex Gill, I have decided to respectfully withdraw my participation in the project. Our cultural understanding of transgender people continues to advance, and I’ve learned a lot from the community since making my first statement about my casting and realize it was insensitive. I have great admiration and love for the trans community and am grateful that the conversation regarding inclusivity in Hollywood continues. According to GLAAD, LGBTQ+ characters dropped 40% in 2017 from the previous year, with no representation of trans characters in any major studio release. While I would have loved the opportunity to bring Dante’s story and transition to life, I understand why many feel he should be portrayed by a transgender person, and I am thankful that this casting debate, albeit controversial, has sparked a larger conversation about diversity and representation in film. I believe that all artists should be considered equally and fairly. My production company, These Pictures, actively pursues projects that both entertain and push boundaries. We look forward to working with every community to bring these most poignant and important stories to audiences worldwide.

Photo: Getty Images


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