Transparent actress Trace Lysette has received death threats after she slammed Scarlett Johansson’s casting as a transgender man.
Earlier this week (beg02Jul18), it was reported that Scarlett will reteam with her Ghost in the Shell director Rupert Sanders to play Dante “Tex” Gill, who was born Lois, in crime biopic Rub & Tug.
News of the 33-year-old’s casting has not gone down well with the trans community though, with transgender actresses Trace and Jamie Clayton among those speaking out on Twitter.
“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(gender) roles, but we know that’s not the case. A mess.
“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…” Trace wrote before telling her followers: “Death threats for being trans and speaking my mind… nothing new.”
She also fell out with actor Michael Rapaport, who questioned her abilities in comparison to Oscar winner Jennifer.
“Yeah! She can play Y’all. DeNiro can play a Boxers & Killers. Meryl Streep can play everything. Maybe it’s just YOUR skills ain’t ready? Maybe your just not that good (sic)? Jealous A** Hating A** Motherf**ka’s will try anything to further careers, Veiled in social outcry and protest (sic),” Michael, who played Phoebe’s police officer boyfriend Gary in Friends, fumed.
“Or maybe we don’t even get in the room to be considered. You would gag at the skills within the trans community. Do your research,” Trace fired back.
Following Trace’s initial outburst, Scarlett’s representative released a statement to Bustle.
“Tell them that they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman’s reps for comment,” they said, referencing the three stars’ critically acclaimed turns as trans characters.
Trace previously accused her Transparent co-star Jeffrey of sexual harassment on the set of Golden Globe-winning series, accusations he denies. He has since been fired from the Amazon show.
