Scarlett Johansson quit the role of a transgender criminal after a strong backlash against her casting, the actress announced in an interview published Friday by Out Magazine.
The actress was set to star in “Rub and Tug,” the story of Dante “Tex” Gill, a massage parlor operator and pimp who became a major criminal figure in the 1970s and 1980s. Born Lois Jean Gill, he identified as male.
“In light of recent ethical questions surrounding my casting as Dante Tex Gill, I have respectfully decided to resign from my involvement in the project,” said the 33-year-old actress, who had previously faced criticism for playing a Japanese heroine in the film adaptation of the manga “Ghost in the Shell.”
“Our cultural understanding of transgender people continues to advance, and I have learned a lot from the community since I made my first statement about the casting and realized that it was insensitive.”
When Johansson's casting was announced, the actress and the project were criticized on social media and by activists for not giving someone from the trans community a chance.
Johansson's representatives did not immediately respond and released a statement pointing out that Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman had all played successful transgender roles.
LGBTQ characters fell 40% in 2017
“Although I would have loved the opportunity to portray Dante’s life story and transition, I understood why many feelings should be represented by a transgender person, and I’m grateful that the casting debate sparked a wider discussion about diversity and representation in film,” Johansson added.
The actress cited figures from GLAAD – Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation – showing that LGBTQ characters fell 40% in 2017 compared to the previous year, with no trans characters in major studio releases.
Members of the online transgender community largely supported the actress, but stressed that the long road to equality still needs to be negotiated.
“Thank you Scarlett Johansson for stepping down from 'Rub and Tug'…Now the real work begins,” tweeted Ashlee Marie Preston, a civil rights activist and media personality.
“This has taken a long time to get to Hollywood. But the trans community is ready if you are,” she added.
