Scarlett Johansson quits film over trans casting furore
16 July, 2018
Scarlett Johansson has quit an upcoming movie role as a transgender criminal following an angry backlash against her casting, she revealed in an interview reported widely in US media on Friday.
The actress was to have taken the lead part in 'Rub and Tug,' the story of Dante "Tex" Gill, a massage parlor operator and pimp who became a major crime figure in the 1970s and 80s.
Born Lois Jean Gill, he identified as male. "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," the 33-year-old told Out Magazine.
"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," added she.
When Johansson's casting was announced, she and the project were berated on social media for not handing someone from the community the opportunity, with trans actresses Trace Lysette and Jamie Clayton leading the charge.
Johansson's representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but have previously released a statement pointing out that Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto and Felicity Huffman have all made successes of transgender roles.
"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," Johansson added.
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