After already conquering appropriative casting by playing as Asian role in 2017's Ghost in the Shell adaptation, Scarlett Johansson is now checking off another item on her list of non-white, non-cis film roles playing a transgender man in the upcoming film Rub & Tug.
Rub & Tug is based on the story of Dante “Tex” Gill, a transgender man who was a proprietor of several massage parlors in in 1970s Pittsburg that were actually fronts for prostitution. While the details of Gill's transition are murky, it's clear that he lived and presented as male — so why exactly is a cisgender woman playing him in a film?
Not only is Johansson taking on the role, but the film is being directed by Rupert Sanders, who also directed Ghost in the Shell. Johansson's casting in the film was widely criticized, but that clearly didn't stop this duo from doing exactly the same thing again.
Johansson's representative supplied Bustle with a statement aimed at those criticizing the casting, saying, “Tell them that they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto and Felicity Huffman’s reps for comment.” Tambor, Leto and Huffman all played transgender characters in Transparent, Dallas Buyers Club and Transamerica, respectively. So in essence Johansson's defense for being a cis actor playing a trans person is, 'well they got away with it, so I can too.'
Transparent star Trace Lysette made the point on Twitter that the problem is that while cisgender actors keep getting cast in trans roles, the reverse isn't true.
Oh word?? So you can continue to play us but we can’t play y’all? Hollywood is so fucked... 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. https://t.co/s8gBlBI1Sw
— Trace Lysette (@tracelysette) July 4, 2018
She added that cisgender actors in trans roles are almost unanimously praised and rewarded for their work, which amounts to "mimicking" the trans experience.
And not only do you play us and steal our narrative and our opportunity but you pat yourselves on the back with trophies and accolades for mimicking what we have lived... so twisted. I’m so done...
— Trace Lysette (@tracelysette) July 4, 2018
Sense8 star Jamie Clayton echoed this sentiment.
Actors who are trans never even get to audition FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN ROLES OF TRANS CHARACTERS. THATS THE REAL ISSUE. WE CANT EVEN GET IN THE ROOM. Cast actors WHO ARE TRANS as NON TRANS CHARACTERS. I DARE YOU #RupertSanders @NewRegency #ScarlettJohansson https://t.co/RkrW8MeGcG
— Jamie Clayton (@MsJamieClayton) July 4, 2018
Pose star Indya Moore made the issue very simple.
trans people aren't cosplay.#ScarlettJohansson
— IAM (@IndyaMoore) July 4, 2018
And of course, Twitter can always be counted on to turn even the most depressing news into the best memes.
when scarlett finally collects all the stolen minority roles she will succeed in wiping out half the diversity in hollywood pic.twitter.com/2c9eUHBiqC
— julia (@tchallavenger) July 4, 2018
The only role that makes sense for Scarlett Johansson to play at this point is Rachel Dolezal
— Orli Matlow (@HireMeImFunny) July 4, 2018
I do not think Scarlett Johansson is an evil person or has ill-intent, but I do feel that if she doesn’t start hiring some career consultants moving forward we are 100% going to see her play Nelson Mandela in a biopic.
— Patti Harrison (@Party_Harderson) July 4, 2018
scarlett johansson selecting her next acting role pic.twitter.com/wT0hY3seYs
— COL•IN (@colinshram) July 4, 2018
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