Controversy over Scarlett Johansson's trans role

Trace Lysette, best known for her role on Transparent tweeted angrily: "So you can continue to play us but we can’t play y’all?"

“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.”

Actress Jamie Clayton from Netflix's Sense8 also tweeted about the choice, saying: “Actors who are trans never even get to audition for anything other than roles of trans characters.” She then "dared" casting directors to hire more trans actors in non trans roles.

 

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

 

However other commentators noted that actors are meant to act - i.e. play roels that are not themselves, therefore hiring a straight woman to play a trans character is not out of the ordinary. 

 

Not really sure why Scarlett Johansson playing a trans individual is a problem. If people can only play roles that represent them, LGBT actors will have a lot less roles.

— Sid Woodram (@SWoodram) July 3, 2018

 

A spokesperson reportedly gave Bustle a comment from Johansson to her detractors stating: "Tell them that they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman's [actors who have famously, and to great acclaim, played trans roles] reps for comment."

Johansson has been criticied in the past for taking on roles she may not have been qualified to play. In 2017's Ghost in the Shell she played a charcater that was originally intended to be Asian. Rupert Sanders, who directed Ghost In The Shell, is reported to also be directing Rub and Tug.