Trans men post hilarious mock video ‘auditioning’ for Scarlett Johansson roles
Trans actors have created a video of them pretending to audition for a number of Scarlett Johansson’s previous film roles, appearing to mock the star after she controversially accepted a part as a trans man in a new film. Watch the video below.
The new video shows a group of trans men supposedly trying out for film characters Johansson has played in the past, including characters in Ghost World, Her, and The Avengers.
Johansson has been widely criticised by the trans community, after she accepted the role of real-life trans man Dante “Tex” Gill in the upcoming film Rub & Tug, directed by Rupert Sanders.
The trans men’s video – watched more than 50,000 times – ends with actor Scott Taylor Schofield getting offered a part in Her, which he turns this down, sarcastically saying: “Sorry, I’m just having trouble because cis women are actually really marginalised in Hollywood.”
He adds: “I know that there are people who have lived this experience and would bring a lot of authenticity to it, and I feel a little weird taking that from them.”
Financial news website Business Insider recently deleted an opinion piece defending Scarlett Johansson for deciding to play a trans man in Rub & Tug. The publication released new guidelines for opinion pieces exploring “sensitive topics,” after it removed the article.
Johansson has also been criticised for a statement she released to Bustle in response to the backlash over her accepting to the part.
She told the publication: “Tell them that they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman’s reps for comment.”
All three actors singled out by Johansson are cis people who have played trans characters, including Tambor in Amazon’s Transparent, before he was fired over sexual misconduct allegations this year, Leto starred in the 2013 film Dallas Buyers Club, while Huffman was in Transamerica, a 2005 comedy-drama.
Johansson at the 2018 Met Gala. (ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty)
None of the actors name-checked by Johansson have responded to PinkNews’ requests for comment.
Trace Lysette, who starred in Amazon’s Transparent, called Johansson’s decision to accept the role as “a mess” and “so twisted.”
Writing on Twitter, Lysette said: “Oh word?? So you can continue to play us but we can’t play y’all?
“Hollywood is so f**ked… 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.”
Business Insider removed an article defending Johansson for accepting a role as a trans man in a new film. (Business Insider)
She continued: “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…”
Trans actor Jamie Clayton, who starred in Netflix series Sense8, also slammed Johansson for accepting the part.
She wrote on Twitter: “Actors who are trans never even get to audition FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN ROLES OF TRANS CHARACTERS. THATS THE REAL ISSUE.”
Clayton added: “WE CANT EVEN GET IN THE ROOM.
“Cast actors WHO ARE TRANS as NON TRANS CHARACTERS. I DARE YOU #RupertSanders @NewRegency #ScarlettJohansson.”
