Actor Scarlett Johansson often gets called out for taking on roles that should be played by the minorities they portray.
For example, she depicted Major Motoko Kusanagi, an Asian woman, in the movie Ghost in the Shell. She was also supposed to play a trans man in Rub & Tug before deciding not to.
"Hey can I copy your homework?" "Yeah but don't make it too obvious"
Well, in a recent interview with AS IF, she addressed the criticism.
"You know, as an actor I should be allowed to play any person, or any tree, or any animal because that is my job and the requirements of my job," she said.
"I feel like it’s a trend in my business and it needs to happen for various social reasons, yet there are times it does get uncomfortable when it affects the art because I feel art should be free of restrictions."
"I think society would be more connected if we just allowed others to have their own feelings and not expect everyone to feel the way we do."
Hmmm...I mean, as much we love ScarJo, taking the roles of minority characters does affect the art..
Naturally, Twitter was quick to react with some call-outs:
lmao scarlett johansson was asked about giving up that trans role and then immediately jumped to comparing playing different gender identities/ethnicities to... animals and trees? ok hun
When trans people are “allowed to play any person,” when prominent roles stop being whitewashed, then Scarlett Johansson can have a moan. Until then, please spare us your “political correctness gone mad” bullshit https://t.co/OZ8QUTuj9j
Scarlett Johansson is a cisgender white woman with a powerful platform and no storage of work opportunities. Trans people should play trans people. Period. It is incredibly disappointing that she has learned nothing and clearly does not care about the experiences of trans people. https://t.co/yWMeCZbUMS
scarlett johansson, highest paid actress in the world, not stepping aside to give opportunities to minorities but, with her $140 million net worth, would rather complain that she! isn’t happy bc she can’t portray the few roles that are actually written FOR minorities? fuck off
And, of course, some meme-able content (especially from the tree comment LOL):
everyone: you’re not a minority scarjo scarlett johansson:
“Speed” remake with Scarlett Johansson as the bus
this has to be scarlett johansson’s best performance of her career
OMG guys I met scarlett johansson !!!
Is this Scarlett Johansson?
scarlett johansson’s next roles talking to each other
The Internet: You can’t be - Scarlett Johansson:
Scarlett Johansson when someone tells her she can’t play any person, or any tree, or any animal
Yep, Twitter wins again. What are your thoughts on the situation? Let us know in the comments below!
UPDATE: Since the backlash, Scarlett has clarified her comments in a statement to Entertainment Tonight, saying:
"The question I was answering in my conversation with the contemporary artist, David Salle, was about the confrontation between political correctness and art. I personally feel that, in an ideal world, any actor should be able to play anybody and Art, in all forms, should be immune to political correctness. That is the point I was making, albeit didn’t come across that way. I recognize that in reality, there is a wide spread discrepancy amongst my industry that favors Caucasian, cis gendered actors and that not every actor has been given the same opportunities that I have been privileged to. I continue to support, and always have, diversity in every industry and will continue to fight for projects where everyone is included.”