This is not Johansson’s first time with casting controversy | Photo: Flickr/Inside the Magic
Scarlett Johansson is being dragged for giving a rude response to critics of her playing a trans character.
The Avengers star was cast in Rub & Tug, portraying a real-life trans masculine figure from the 70s.
Scarlet Johansson’s new role as a trans person in film
It tells the story of Dante ‘Tex’ Gill in Pittsburgh, who dressed as a man and became a crime kingpin.
Through illicit massage parlors and prostitution in the LGBTI community, Gill provided steroids for NFL teams.
Clashing with the mob, he started an empire.
The movie will also explore the relationship with Gill’s girlfriend Cynthia, which Deadline describes as a ‘fiery romance’.
Many people are expressing outrage at Johansson taking on the role of a trans man.
Response to critics
In a statement obtained by Bustle, the actress said via her representative: ‘Tell them they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman’s reps for comment.’
Tambor, disgraced for alleged sexual harassment, won an Emmy for his role as a trans woman on Transparent. Leto won an Oscar for his trans role in Dallas Buyers Club. Huffman was nominated for an Oscar and won the Golden Globe for her trans role in Transamerica.
People were already skeptical of the actress for choosing to work with Ghost in the Shell director Rupert Sanders.
The director was accused of both whitewashing and straightwashing the film.
People have critiqued Johansson’s choices:
