Scarlett Johannson Backs Out of a Transgender Role After a Backlash
Source - Scarlett Johansson has decided to exit the lead role of Rub & Tug, the film from director Rupert Sanders that would have seen the Avengers star playing trans man Dante “Tex” Gill.
“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,” Johansson said in a statement Friday to 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. I have great admiration and love for the trans community and am grateful that the conversation regarding inclusivity in Hollywood continues.” …
Johansson’s decision follows a week’s worth of backlash from trans actors and advocates, fueled even more by her initial response that was issued via a rep to Bustle. “Tell them that they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman’s reps for comment,” read the statement, referring to the awards won by those three actors in playing trans roles.
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The Jerry from a long time ago – and I’m referring to 2017 Jerry – would have reacted to a story like this by saying that Scarlett Johansson was undoubtedly bullied by SJWs into backing out of a role that would have probably been serious Oscar bait for her.
But that was the old me. I’ve changed. I’m now all alone on the road to perfection, becoming more enlightened by day. The world is becoming a better place and I’m furiously scribbling notes so that, when we at last have achieved true social justice, I’ll know exactly what the rules are. And now they say that actors can’t act like something they’re not. Have I got that right? I want to make sure I’ve got this down correctly before I type up my notes.
In fairness to 2017 Jerry, that was a different world then. Actors played what they weren’t all the time. It made careers. I would’ve thought ScarJo made a good point about Tambor, Leto and Huffman winning awards playing trans characters. And not just them. Dustin Hoffman won an Oscar playing an actor who passes as an actress to get work in Tootsie. Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis passed as women to hide from the mob in Some Like It Hot, which, along with Tootsie, is at the top of AFI’s Top Comedies list. Tom Hanks got his start in Bosom Buddies. Robin Williams was Mrs. Doubtfire, easily his least annoying comedy. Hillary Swank was in Boys Don’t Cry. Cate Blanchett passed as Bob Dylan in one of those indie arthouse films I can’t name. To steal a line from Top Gun, the most pro-gay movie ever made according to Quentin Tarantino …
… the list is long and distinguished. Up until now, being able to play against type, whether it was another gender or a straight actor playing an LGBTQ was considered a respected talent. What was once called “acting.”
But those days are over. Sorry, Tyler Perry, but you’ve put on the Madea dress for the last time. Swayze, Snipes and Leguizamo might have been celebrated back in the day, but don’t hold your breath waiting for To Wong Foo: The Early Years. And I’m not arguing. I’m just a movie fan trying to understand where the goal posts are as they keep changing on me.
So the next logical step is to follow along to see how far this trend goes. Maybe Christian Bale will have to stop doing American accents better than our actors do. Or no one will be allowed to act in a wheelchair unless you are actually in a wheelchair. And Mark Wahlberg won’t be able to play a guy with a huge dick like he did in Boogie Nights. I don’t know. That remains to be seen. All I know is that I never imagined that when the world finally got saved, it would have to be saved from the hate crimes of Scarlett Johannson. But now I know better.
