Scarlett Johannson Admits She Mishandled Trans Casting Controversy

Scarlett Johansson didn’t exactly do herself any favors when she first accepted the role of a trans man last year, and then repeatedly seemed to fail to grasp what the issue was. But now, she’s admitting she really messed that up.

Johannson was cast in the role of real life trans man Date “Tex” Gill in the movie Rub & Tug last summer. The internet was quick to denounce the casting decision, and she ultimately backed out of the film. But not before issuing a comment that people who had issues with the casting could “be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman’s reps for comment,” referencing other cis actors who had made the unfortunate decision to take on trans roles.

Now, in an interview with Vanity Fair, ScarJo has blatantly admitted that was a terrible way to approach the criticisms.

“In hindsight, I mishandled that situation,” she said. “I was not sensitive, my initial reaction to it. I wasn’t totally aware of how the trans community felt about those three actors playing — and how they felt in general about cis actors playing — transgender people. I wasn’t aware of that conversation — I was uneducated.”

She continued: “So I learned a lot through that process. I misjudged that… It was a hard time. It was like a whirlwind. I felt terribly about it. To feel like you’re kind of tone-deaf to something is not a good feeling.”

The Avengers actor had previously told Out when she withdrew from Rub & Tug that she was “thankful that this casting debate, albeit controversial, has sparked a larger conversation about diversity and representation in film,” leading many to hope that she had indeed learned from both her mistake and her reaction to people’s concerns. Though she subsequently defended the idea that all actors should be able to take on any type of role.

You can read the whole interview here, but if you’re hoping to find out Johannson is also backtracking on her defense of Woody Allen…well…don’t.