« In light of recent ethical questions raised surrounding my casting as Dante Tex Gill, I have decided to respectfully withdraw my participation in the project. »
Johansson had been set to play transgender man Dante « Tex » Gill, who owned a string of massage parlors in Pittsburgh that were fronts for prostitution in the 1970s and 1980s, in a film about his life.
Johansson’s casting, however, came at a moment when the LGBTQ community and allies are encouraging the casting transgender actors in transgender roles.
The recent debut of Ryan Murphy’s FX drama « Pose, » which featured the largest-ever cast of transgender actors in series regular roles on a television series, has been pointed to as an shining example this practice in action.
After the immediate backlash to Johannson’s casting began, the actress issued a statement to Bustle that was criticized for its dismissive nature.
In her new statement, Johansson acknowledges making a misstep.
« Our cultural understanding of transgender people continues to advance, and I’ve learned a lot from the community since making my first statement about my casting and realize it was insensitive, » she said. « I have great admiration and love for the trans community and am grateful that the conversation regarding inclusivity in Hollywood continues. »
Johansson has found herself in the middle of a casting controversy before.
Her casting in the film « Ghost in the Shell, » based on a popular Japanese manga series, prompted accusations of white-washing. The movie went ahead as planned and was released in 2017.
« While I would have loved the opportunity to bring Dante’s story and transition to life, I understand why many feel he should be portrayed by a transgender person, and I am thankful that this casting debate, albeit controversial, has sparked a larger conversation about diversity and representation in film, » Johansson added.
