Scarlett Johansson Sounds Off on P.C. Casting, The Internet Reacts
Scarlett Johansson has been one of the main actors at the center of talks about Hollywood’s penchant for not casting minority or trans actors for minority or trans roles. However, when asked about some of the minority roles she has taken in the past, Johansson gave quite the incendiary answer.
In an interview with As If magazine (transcribed by Daily Mail), Johansson said the following:
“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 point blank.
She continued: “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.”
Johansson faced controversy when she was cast in 2017’s Ghost in the Shell, a film based on a Japanese Manga. She was also cast in the since-canceled film Rub & Tug as a trans man, but pulled out of the role due to public criticism.
With quotes like that, it’s understandable that many took to social media in response. Here are just some notable reactions.
https://twitter.com/MSMartin44/status/1150147133183578112
Anyone not understand white privilege? Here's Scarjo to demonstrate it for ya!
— Jack Teng (@MyBossIsADroid) July 13, 2019
'I should be allowed to play any person, or any tree, or any animal': Scarlett Johansson opens up about politically correct casting"
https://t.co/SwCs3ZpwWi
https://twitter.com/tfnow/status/1150151848306847744
https://twitter.com/vodkavalkryie/status/1150152572637974528
https://twitter.com/IjeomaOluo/status/1150135362246909952
https://twitter.com/gabriellawilsnn/status/1150164921486757888
The same people defending ScarJo’s interview are the ones who were crying just last week about Ariel being played by a black girl I’m pic.twitter.com/qhJPxuFSQ1
— 🌧 (@judesthugos) July 13, 2019
As an actor who thought the exact same as Scarjo, I sat for years on the sideline, applying for everything but never really called in to audition unless the role was specifically “Asian”. It all boils down to this:
— Jimmy Wong (@jfwong) July 13, 2019
Just because you CAN, doesn’t necessarily mean you SHOULD. https://t.co/tUNuVafHMJ
https://twitter.com/BoldBebo/status/1150151371250782208
I just KNEW what I was going to be in for when I saw Scarjo trending and then went ahead and clicked on it. pic.twitter.com/ydO28AOFzh
— Savrielle (@Savrielle) July 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/Quotemeorelse/status/1150162089769500672
Girl what the hell is scarjo doing...why is she like this omg pic.twitter.com/7sgZBgcqdH
— luna ミ☆ (@lunaspidey) July 13, 2019
Chris Evans and Mark Ruffalo, who are consistently loud and "woke" on Twitter, watching their bestie Scarjo trend AGAIN pic.twitter.com/HX8jU7sngZ
— your favorite fearless hero (@LeahCsMovies) July 13, 2019
