Transgender movie outrage: Scarlett Johansson’s new ‘pimp’ role melts internet
Scarlett Johansson is under fire again, this time for her new role as a transgender man. It comes a year after she was accused of whitewashing an Asian character in a movie with the same director.
The US actress will team up again with director Rupert Sanders for the movie ‘Rub & Tug,’ which is expected to center on Pittsburgh massage parlor owner Dante ‘Tex’ Gill.
Gill, who was indicted on tax evasion charges in 1984 over a call girl ring, was referred to in a 2003 obituary by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as a “bizarre fixture in the red light world of Pittsburgh” and preferred to be known as a man after being born Lois Jean Gill.
Johansson previously worked on Rupert’s ‘Ghost in the Shell’ feature film, which garnered accusations of ‘whitewashing,’ given the Hollywood actress played a lead character who was originally Asian in a popular Japanese manga comic.
Scarlett Johansson is playing a trans man in her next movie because her ultimate career goal is to take an acting job from a member of each and every marginalized group.
— Faith Choyce (@faithchoyce) July 3, 2018
What’s next? Is Scarlett Johansson going to play Barack Obama?
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) July 4, 2018
First the Japanese, and now Scarlett Johansson is taking on the trans community with her new film Rub and Tug. I can't wait until her Rosa Parks film comes out. https://t.co/nbmoMkoNlN
— Valerie Vza Complex (@ValerieComplex) July 3, 2018
Scarlett Johansson had to know there would be justified pushback on her playing a trans man in a new movie. But WOW at this "update."Is she insinuating her right to a play a trans man is a White Feminist™ issue bc cis white actors have played trans women? I'm disgusted. pic.twitter.com/V0a43UAJu5
— Kevin Allred (@KevinAllred) July 3, 2018
Following outrage at Johansson’s upcoming role, the actress released a terse response to the criticisms.
“Tell them that they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman’s reps for comment,” Johansson’s representatives told Bustle, referring to cis actors who have previously been cast in transgender roles.
Despite outrage that the role of Gill did not go to a transgender actor, a number of online denizens have backed Johansson, asking why the Hollywood celebrity is being pilloried for her latest career move.
Never thought I'd give a crap but stop getting on Scarlett Johansson. She's an actress. The whole point is to portray people you are not. What's next, based-on-a-true-story movie characters have to be played by the actual person? Calm down, it's a friggin movie.
— Will Presti (@WillPresti) July 3, 2018
I don’t understand why people are mad at Scarlett Johansson, or at least mad now. Shouldn’t we wait for the movie to release so we can see if she plays the role good
— Emanuel Gonzalez (@Emanuel38314810) July 4, 2018
Also quit bullying Scarlett Johansson for being a FUCKING ACTRESS Jesus christ. So it’s ok to act gay? But not trans? If your trans you get to pretend you are the opposite sex but an actress can’t pretend to be Trans???? Much love to the trans community. No love to the ignorant.
— LEBRONZE JAMES (@JohnnyStevens) July 4, 2018
I'm just gonna put this out there, Scarlett Johansson is playing a woman who identified as a man, that means it was a woman who felt and carried herself as if she was a man, a "portrayal" might not be the best word, but why can't scarlett portray a woman who portrays a man?
— Bustero (@Buh_Stair_Oh) July 4, 2018
Scarlett Johansson is playing trans in her new movie sounds amazing. I can't wait to watch her new movie. I don't get it why people freaked out! She is an actress, it's her job to portray roles she is not. It's so cool#acting#acting#mdia#ScarlettJohanssonpic.twitter.com/MsMyrRHFuM
— Digital Marketing (@boostsites) July 4, 2018
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