“Tell them that they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman’s reps for comment.”
Scarlett Johansson has dismissed criticism over her decision to play a transgender character in an upcoming film.
The American actress – who stars as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – is set to star in Rub and Tug, the biopic of Dante “Tex” Gill (born Jean Gill), who owned a massage parlor in Pittsburgh’s underground sex industry in the 70s.
In his 2003 obituary, Gill was described as “insisting that she was a man and telling everyone she wanted to be known as ‘Mr. Gill.’”
Johansson’s casting has faced criticism from some in the LGBTQ community, who have questioned why a cisgender actor is playing the role of a trans character, when so few trans actors are able to get roles on the big screen.
The Lucy star was previously accused of whitewashing in the 2017 sci-fi blockbuster, Ghost in the Shell, in which she played an Asian character. Rupert Sanders – director of Ghost in the Shell – is also set to direct the biopic.
In a statement via her representative, Johansson hit out at her critics and referenced other actors who have played trans roles.
She said: “Tell them they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman’s reps for comment.”
Related: Matt Bomer plays a trans sex worker in trailer for controversial film Anything.
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