Scarlett Johansson forced to quit transgender role in film Rub and Tug
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Scarlett Johansson forced to quit transgender role in film Rub and Tug

HOLLYWOOD star Scarlett Johansson isn’t afraid of standing up for what she believes in. But now, she’s pulled out of an upcoming movie where she was due to play a transgender criminal.

HOLLYWOOD star Scarlett Johansson has quit an upcoming movie role as a transgender criminal following an angry backlash against her casting, she revealed in an interview reported widely in US media.

HOLLYWOOD star Scarlett Johansson isn’t afraid of standing up for what she believes in. But now, she’s pulled out of an upcoming movie where she was due to play a transgender criminal.

HOLLYWOOD star Scarlett Johansson has quit an upcoming movie role as a transgender criminal following an angry backlash against her casting, she revealed in an interview reported widely in US media.

The actress was to have taken the lead part in Rub and Tug, the story of Dante “Tex” Gill, a massage parlour operator and pimp who became a major crime figure in the 1970s and 80s. Born Lois Jean Gill, he identified as male.

“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,” the 33-year-old told Out Magazine.

“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 realise it was insensitive.”

When Johansson’s casting was announced, she and the project were berated on social media for not handing someone from the community the opportunity, with trans actresses Trace Lysette and Jamie Clayton leading the charge.

Johansson’s representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but have previously released a statement pointing out that Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto and Felicity Huffman have all made successes of transgender roles.

“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,” Johansson added.

The actress cited figures from GLAAD -- formerly the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation -- showing LGBTQ characters dropped 40 per cent in 2017 from the previous year, with no trans characters in major studio releases.

There was no immediate word on the effect of Johansson’s exit on the production schedule for Rub and Tug.

Members of the online transgender community were largely supportive, praising the actress for making a stand but highlighting the long path to equality that must still be negotiated.

“Thank you Scarlett Johansson for pulling out of ‘Rub and Tug’... Now the real work begins,” tweeted civil rights activist and media personality Ashlee Marie Preston.

“This has been a long time coming Hollywood. But the trans community is ready if you are.”

“Oh word?? So you can continue to play us but we can’t play y’all?” Trace Lysette, a transgender actress best known for appearing on Amazon’s Transparent, wrote on Twitter after the casting announcement.

“Hollywood is so f — ed... I wouldn’t be as upset if I was getting in the same rooms as Jennifer Lawrence and Scarlett for cis roles, but we know that’s not the case. A mess.” “Actors who are trans never even get to audition FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN ROLES OF TRANS CHARACTERS,” tweeted Jamie Clayton, another transgender actress known for her role on Sense8. “THAT'S THE REAL ISSUE. WE CANT EVEN GET IN THE ROOM. Cast actors WHO ARE TRANS as NON TRANS CHARACTERS. I DARE YOU.”

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