UPDATE, 4:54 p.m. ET: Looks like ScarJo has thought better of her interview quotes (below)… or maybe she’s just mad that they were taken “out of context” for “clickbait.”
Regardless, the actress has released a fresh, new statement about this entire controversy, telling the media on Sunday afternoon (below):
“An interview that was recently published has been edited for click bait and is widely taken out of context. The question I was answering in my conversation with the contemporary artist, David Salle, was about the confrontation between political correctness and art. I personally feel that, in an ideal world, any actor should be able to play anybody and Art, in all forms, should be immune to political correctness. That is the point I was making, albeit didn’t come across that way. I recognize that in reality, there is a widespread discrepancy amongst my industry that favours Caucasian, cis gendered actors and that not every actor has been given the same opportunities that I have been privileged to. I continue to support, and always have, diversity in every industry and will continue to fight for projects where everyone is included.”
Y’all buyin’ it this time??
Original story (below)…
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Even after having months and months to think better of this and learn something from the controversy, Scarlett Johansson still doesn’t get it, apparently.
One year after the Avengers: Endgame star dropped out of Rub and Tug, a movie in which she’d been slated to play transgender crime kingpin Dante ‘Tex’ Gill, she is speaking out once again about political correctness in casting, and it sounds like she’s learned… absolutely nothing over the last twelve-plus months.
Related: ScarJo & Colin Jost Kept Things Low Key With Their Engagement!
The actress did a recent interview with As If magazine about it (later picked up by the Daily Mail, where it really blew up), during which she opened up about political correctness in Hollywood, and specifically in casting. She said (below):
“You know, as an actor I should be allowed to play any person, or any tree, or any animal because that is my job and the requirements of my job. I feel like it’s a trend in my business and it needs to happen for various social reasons, yet there are times it does get uncomfortable when it affects the art because I feel art should be free of restrictions… I think society would be more connected if we just allowed others to have their own feelings and not expect everyone to feel the way we do.”
Uh-huh…
She’s been taking a TON of heat for this on social media over the last twelve hours — and even though she didn’t mention Rub and Tug by name, it’s pretty clear that’s what she is referring to with these comments about playing different characters. Unfortunately for her, this statement is not going over very well online. Not good!!!
One of the main issues is accurate representation, of course — as well as frequency of opportunity in casting. It’d be one thing if, say, transgender people were routinely being cast for major roles across the entire spectrum of film and television. But they’re not — not even close! — and so when transgender roles do come up (which is very rare), it’s a gut-punch to see non-transgender people like Johansson believe she is entitled to those roles, as well. Not hard, ScarJo! And yet, here we are, with her stepping into another major controversy…
Related: ScarJo Has A Scary Run-In With The Paparazzi!
What do y’all think about this, Perezcious readers?! Is it a big deal for non-transgender people like ScarJo to take transgender roles on film? Should the best actor get the role, regardless of anything else? Or does representation matter — do you want to see transgender people cast in transgender roles?
Sound OFF about everything with all of your comments in the section (below)…
[Image via WENN]