Laverne Cox joins MTV lesbian comedy ‘Faking It’
Laverne Cox has signed up to the second season of lesbian comedy series Faking It.
The actress, best known for playing transgender inmate Sophia Burset on Orange is the New Black, has joined the cast of the MTV show.
Faking It revolves around two best friends in high school, who pretend to be a lesbian couple in order to become more popular, only for one of the girls to realise that she has genuine romantic feelings.
The show attracted some controversy when it first aired earlier this year, over its portrayal of gay characters.
According to Entertainment Weekly, in an episode set to air later this year, Cox will play drama teacher Margot, described as “demanding, intense, and full of herself” and “a big fish in a small pond”.
Cox was approached by the Sylvia Rivera Law Project to read a letter from a transgender inmate, highlighting the harmful prison conditions trans people face while incarcerated.
However, the letter was written by Synthia China Blast, who was found guilty of the rape and abuse of a 13-year-old girl in 1993.
Cox requested the video be removed once she learned of the context, and added: “It is important for me to let you know that I have never, nor would I ever, support abuse or violence against anyone, especially a child like Ebony Nicole Williams.
“My intention was to highlight the horrific conditions many trans people experience during incarceration — to shed a light where often there is only darkness.”
