Since Scarlett Johansson was tapped to play Dante "Tex" Gill in the upcoming film entitled "Rub & Tug," the actress and the production heads have received a lot of criticism. The casting was deemed to be problematic as Johansson was set to play a trans male character. The female actress told OUT Magazine, "I have great admiration and love for the trans community and am grateful that the conversation regarding inclusivity in Hollywood continues." Her statement comes as a relief for many since Johansson had previously defended her position. She tried to justify her decision with the fact that other cis-gendered actors had played trans characters in the past, labeling history is inherently ethical.
Scarlett Johansson's own history is one of the main reasons why she received more pressure than some of her counterparts. The actress had accepted another problematic role last year when deciding to play an Asian character in "Ghost In The Shell." Hopefully, her habit of stiffing minorities out of major film roles has ended for good.
Here is Scarlett's full statement in the most recent matter:
"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. 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."
