After an unfortunate and defiant statement from her representatives following the public backlash to the news of her casting as a trans man in the film “Rub And Tug,” Scarlett Johansson is backing out of the role.
Johanson, who was criticized in 2017 for starring in the lead role of “Ghost In The Shell,” a role based on an animated film starring a Japanese woman, received much heat this week and evidently has reconsidered her position on the matter. In a just-released statement to Out Magazine, the actress acknowledges her comments were “insensitive” and that she has “learned a lot from the community.” Here’s the full statement.
“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.”
She continued, “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.”
READ MORE: Scarlett Johansson Responds To Backlash Over ‘Rub & Tug’ With A Defiant Statement
Last week, Johansson, through her reps, was singing a much different tune. ” Tell them that they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman’s reps for comment,” her handlers said referencing trans roles that the aforementioned actors portrayed.
Clearly, she’s learned her lesson or at least wants to be out of the negative spotlight, but one must assume this won’t be the last we hear of Johansson’s thoughts on the matter, at least until her next round of press. “Rub And Tug” is to be directed by Rupert Sanders, who worked with Johansson on 2017’s “Ghost in the Shell,” the aforementioned movie besieged by criticisms of white washing when it was released in 2017.