Scarlett Johansson has come under substantial criticism for taking the transgender role of Dante 'Tex' Gill in an upcoming biopic called ‘Rub & Tug’.
It emerged yesterday that the actress is reuniting with ‘Ghost in the Shell’ director Rupert Sanders on the project. Movie fans will likely recall that film facing a major backlash for ‘whitewashing’ the originally Asian lead character, and now controversy has come to haunt Johansson and Sanders again.
According to IMDB, ‘Rub & Tug’ follows “Tex Gill, a larger than life character who, while transitioning from female to male, becomes the crime kingpin of 1970s Pittsburgh through his empire of illicit massage parlors.”
Many have taken to Twitter to express their infuriation at the news of the casting.
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
Scarlett Johansson is trending on twitter bc she was cast for the role of a trans person
1) there are TRANS actors that would perform phenomenally in this role
2) don’t blindly support problematic actors seriously
3) This is pathetic. Cast the right people for the right role
— ðÂÂ?“¥ðŸ¥€ (@avengermemes) July 4, 2018
Why ðŸ'ÂÂ? are ðŸ'ÂÂ? you ðŸ'ÂÂ? playing ðŸ'ÂÂ? a ðŸ'ÂÂ? trans ðŸ'ÂÂ? man ðŸ'ÂÂ? if ðŸ'ÂÂ? you're ðŸ'ÂÂ? not ðŸ'ÂÂ? a ðŸ'ÂÂ? trans ðŸ'ÂÂ? man ðŸ'ÂÂ? please ðŸ'ÂÂ? stop ðŸ'ÂÂ? #ScarlettJohansson
— Laura. (@_laurajane123) July 3, 2018
there are literally so many trans actors that could’ve been cast in this role. why do we keep casting Scarlett Johansson in roles where she doesn’t fit the criteria? https://t.co/nnD7PKH5Gc
— anthony amorim is lo:st (@AnthonyAmorim) July 3, 2018
Scarlett Johansson will play a trans man for movie by #Ghostintheshell director, because I guess they really, really, really didn’t understand the controversy the first time round. https://t.co/akYpU9EDv9 @screencrushnews
— Reappropriate (@reappropriate) July 3, 2018
Johansson recently made matters worse for herself when according to Bustle, she stated: "Tell them that they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman's reps for comment."
Tweeters were quick to point out that the statement appeared to simplify and demean the issues at hand.
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
Yeah, I'm gonna avoid Scarlett Johansson movies moving forward after her response. Even if this topic were complex (and it's not: trans people should play trans people), flippantly dismissing concerns over this new role really says a lot about her views regarding trans people.
— Charlotte ClymerðŸÂÂ?³ï¸ÂÂ?🌈 (@cmclymer) July 3, 2018
Scarlett Johansson's comment about Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto and Felicity Huffman literally ignores the fact that everyone was pissed off about those castings too #RubAndTug
— angel is soulless (@angelbsouless) July 4, 2018
