As Twitchy told you yesterday, Scarlett Johansson has come under major fire from the social justice mob for her upcoming role as Dante “Tex” Gill, a female-to-male transgender massage parlor owner. Johansson defended her decision by pointing out that she’s far from the first “cis” person to play a transgender role. And just in case she needs the extra help, actor Jon Lovitz is backing her up today:
Scarlett Johannson is not hurting for money. She is in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is about to get her own film: Black Widow. She is also a well-established actress so she doesn't need the increased profile. So why would she take work away from a trans actor? #OscarsSoWhite
— April (@ReignOfApril) July 3, 2018
Because it’s called “acting”. And it’s her project she’s producing. And she is well known like you said. So she can sell tickets.
And she’s a great actress. https://t.co/iS8Hb8jSYB— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
None of that means that she should take opportunities away from marginalized communities, Jon. In fact, all of it explains why she can and should step aside. https://t.co/BioBbojHkS
— April (@ReignOfApril) July 5, 2018
It’s a business. The movie wouldn’t get financed, otherwise. Plus, the director has a vision of his film. I respectfully disagree with you. She didn’t take an opportunity away from anyone. She created an opportunity, a job, an acting career, since she’s 8 years old, for herself. https://t.co/vqongLDwhg
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
When you're in a position of power like she is you should be helping to raise up those with less power, not assuming you can give voice to them and leaving them behind.
— Mad (@Madsp4) July 5, 2018
Do you have any idea why or how a movie gets financing? Or any idea what an actor does? I was NONE of the people I played. It’s fiction!!! It’s pretending!!! And whoever is making a movie is in charge of casting it. Not the public. https://t.co/ub4BoU3Ozq
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
So you would limit an actor’s career by saying what characters they can give voice to? This is art plus business.
Are you upset Louis Anderson plays a woman on “Baskets”?
Whose job did he take? https://t.co/ub4BoU3Ozq— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
You are so delusional on this. Not surprising though. You’re apart of the problem.
— The Black Samantha Jones (@OfParisian) July 5, 2018
I couldn’t agree more! I am apart from the problem! https://t.co/yjhxCWCdhD
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
We see what he did there.
Scarlett being a “great actress” who “can sell tickets” wasn’t enough for several of her non-franchise films to do well, apparently. I refer you to Ghost in the Shell, which tanked by any standards. Names don’t guarantee success. Ask Matt Damon. https://t.co/BioBbojHkS
— April (@ReignOfApril) July 5, 2018
She can get a movie financed. As can Matt Damon. https://t.co/GyhDXFZjWS
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
@realjonlovitz Someone took a chance and gave her her big break. When will a trans actor get their chance?
— Fancy Pelosi ?? (@linluv5) July 5, 2018
She’s been building her career since she’s 8 years old. She took the chance and went for it and succeeded. People hire you because they think you are right and can help their project. https://t.co/qzPmaq1M3F
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
Well, as an underwear model from Dayton, Ohio who’s never made a movie, you’d know better than me. https://t.co/YuS4ZL7NpS
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
But how do they know that she’s right if they haven’t even considered trans actors? https://t.co/W2T5drqxyp
— Fancy Pelosi ?? (@linluv5) July 5, 2018
How do they know she’s right for the part? It’s subjective, it’s her project, it’s the directors choice, it’s a part she wants to play and it got greenling with her in the part. And I don’t know what they considered and neither do you. https://t.co/Fus19bV1JM
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
This is what happened in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. John Boyeaga (Black man), Oscar Isaac (Latinx man) and Daisy Ridley (woman lead in Star Wars) were out in front. All relatively unknown. Harrison Ford, our Carrie Fisher & @HamillHimself helped sell it. cc: @realjonlovitz https://t.co/a0iOmmi3Xt
— April (@ReignOfApril) July 5, 2018
Star Wars is one of the biggest franchises in movie history. It sold itself. https://t.co/vNv8m69a3I
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
I wonder if @realjonlovitz would be singing the same tune if movies that were centred around stories about Jewish people/history were cast with non-Jewish actors? You know, Muslims, Christians? They're just movies, and a direct/producer is just creating "jobs", right? Harmless?
— Jared Purdy (@jaredpurdy) July 5, 2018
They cast non Jewish actors as Jews all the time. It’s called acting!!! https://t.co/6wUAgo8UrU
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
It’s sad so many talented, underrepresented people don’t get opportunities in the name of ticket sales.
— Deanna Dawn (@ArtAttackNYC) July 5, 2018
It’s a business. And a hard one. https://t.co/tsxOOZcMvm
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
A. She’s not a great actor, she’s actually kind of awful and she has been for years. B. Movies where she is the headliner tend to flop. C. It’s not unheard of for a producing actor to realize they’re not right for a role and step aside. Think Reese Witherspoon and Gone Girl.
— Ovaries Before Brovaries (@Carolinamidwife) July 5, 2018
Maybe she should just quit. She’s fooling everyone but you. https://t.co/dKSI2JDXiO
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
Why gamble on something that always fails? Also you said they did it for business reasons yet what good smart businessman or businesswoman sees this is a good “gamble”? https://t.co/besqXSskT6
— Darth Kriss (@insanityreport) July 5, 2018
Because, if you understood how movies are financed, this probably has a low enough budget that they can make their money back through foreign sales. https://t.co/6AQHY7c9Bz
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
If “every movie is a gamble” why not just get a trans man to play the role? Your excuses make no sense https://t.co/besqXSskT6
— Darth Kriss (@insanityreport) July 5, 2018
They do make sense, if you understand the movie business. https://t.co/ZrJYS01wAH
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
Wonder what @realjonlovitz will say when ScarJo's movie flops…AGAIN
— Jai @ home (@Jaiissoawesome) July 5, 2018
Nothing. It’s her choice to make it. https://t.co/WCda5SKOfj
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
The vision is of a transman to be played by a ciswoman. This is as appropriate as blackface, sorry. They should listen to the trans community on this.
— Cipher (@snarkylicious) July 5, 2018
Oh.
Well, don’t see the musical, “Hamilton”
You’ll have a heart attack!!! https://t.co/pqALvXXyOE— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
So, you prefer having someone POSSIBLY sell tickets (cause she most likely won’t) and acting subpar over someone who KNOWS and Understands the complexities of the roles to bring it to life on screen in its fullest? Wow. https://t.co/bEXyLELstd
— Chang? (@LightUpThaSky) July 5, 2018
They have t made the film yet. So you haven’t seen it.
And yet, you’re already critiquing her performance as “sub par?”— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/missmanoushka/status/1014860369448325126
Mel cast himself in comedies he wrote and produced. Did he take a job away from an unknown comedian? https://t.co/7WdSTdmKaP
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
She’s not gonna ‘magically’ get better at acting mister. That’s just not gonna happen. https://t.co/WQ8nTk3dyk
— Chang? (@LightUpThaSky) July 5, 2018
Then why do you watch her movies? https://t.co/rLwa0Vmiwj
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
As a producer, she absolutely created the opportunity for a trans role, this is 100% true. She and the director, together, collaborated on what acting vehicle to create for her, and decided on one where she is misrepresenting a painfully underrepresented group. It’s a dick move. https://t.co/5QuUi0FD8j
— Megan Kingery (@megansarak) July 5, 2018
I couldn’t disagree with you more. https://t.co/zaWoWKIocp
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
And if you feel that strongly about it, why don’t you produce a movie about people who you feel are marginalized. Maybe you have. I don’t know. Blue Man Group? https://t.co/zaWoWKIocp
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
You presume that this particular movie getting made with this particular financing is necessarily a good thing.
— Lisa Simpson's REAL Magic Bear-Repelling Rock (@FERALROBOTS) July 5, 2018
I presume it’s her business and her career. https://t.co/HNQzoixZG4
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
Literally anyone who’s a trans man and acting, also of same racial background. Casting is a thing and studios need to actually DO THAT. Trans individuals are not “characters” but actual people. Having a Cisgendered Woman play a TRANS MAN is erasure of said reality.
— Chang? (@LightUpThaSky) July 5, 2018
It’s not reality! It’s a movie!!! https://t.co/31E4lnKd2U
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
Part of me wants to be surprised by this tweet, but these days, my will to can continues to be out of order.
This is exactly why entertainment continues to thrive and operate the way it does.
Because people only see the $$$, but refuse to understand why inclusion matters. https://t.co/wPo8E3hoEL
— Jon Paul, Ed.D. ?? (@DoctorJonPaul) July 5, 2018
This isn’t about inclusion. Or exclusion.
It’s about an actress playing a role.
She’s an actress. That’s what actors do.
It’s not a social agenda.
It’s a skill. A learned art. https://t.co/r1YDXBDZ86— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/saychieeef/status/1014870774010675200
So now it’s about race?
Oy! https://t.co/HlF3Kzz3Gd— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
This is a terrible take. She didn't just create an opportunity for herself because a trans person's story is more than just a tool for her to co-opt. She absolutely DID take away a chance for a trans actor AND for the entire trans community at real representation.
— Kendally Brown (@kendallybrown) July 5, 2018
I disagree. https://t.co/rycvhZjMwf
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
-Being trans, like other demographics, isn't a character, it's a trait.
-So she's producing something bad?
-She is well known, but people don't support headassery, see GitS.
-No she's not https://t.co/4WPoeEIVNd— D❄️M (@BrothaDom) July 5, 2018
It’s a movie, not real life. https://t.co/LpC6OUJPMv
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
. @realjonlovitz Hi Jon. We met during the Chicago Film Festival and I thought some of your comments during the Q&A were hysterical. What you may not know is that I'm transgender and we don't get the same opportunities as cis actors do in Hollywood even for trans roles.
— Danielle Solzman in Sundance withdrawal (@DanielleSATM) July 5, 2018
I remember you and did know you’re transgender.
Thanks for the compliment. Casting decisions are subjective. You have to fit in a director’s vision for his project.
If you do, they cast you. https://t.co/CEONdyD1yF— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
Great actress? She’s a pretty face that looks good on camera but saying she’s a great actress disproves any point you’re attempting to make. I would cast a baked potato over Scarlett Johansson. Good thing I’m not a casting director.
— Oniffe?? (@BlackSpaceMagic) July 5, 2018
As an actor for the past 45 years, I
Disagree. https://t.co/eeFMZai80m— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
It was also a role that originally went to a trans actress, Alexandra Billings, before the offer was rescinded as they needed a name actress in order to move forward with production. It's on the financiers to help change the status quo.
— Danielle Solzman in Sundance withdrawal (@DanielleSATM) July 5, 2018
So, you agree with me. I see your point. But…It’s show business.
Business and art. https://t.co/H6BUUq3iwG— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
Yes, but there are limits. White actors can't play minority parts. Cis-Men can't play cis-women. The trans thing isn't so clear cut, but I'll take Jeffrey Tambor at his word when he stated he hoped he would be the last cis actor to play a trans character.
— AlanLiskov (@Aliskov) July 5, 2018
Didn’t he say that AFTER he won his Emmy? https://t.co/y2GQK5rNkc
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
#ScarlettJohansson was not just an actress who landed the role, she was at the helm. If her aim was to give voice to the marginalized she could actually do it instead of just “acting”. It seems some think cis are the only ones who could win Oscars, sell tickets or be believable. https://t.co/XH5AP9RIG1
— Aching Dad (@codeaiwi) July 5, 2018
Some think “cis”????
Some do, I guess.
Never crossed my mind. https://t.co/6rjdMaS9KR— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/ken_fantry/status/1014919712235507717
I don’t think of people in those terms.
I don’t label everyone into a category.
I was raised to treat everyone as an individual, with respect, regardless of anything they might be labeled as by others.I think of people as people. https://t.co/7OGcpOEMz5
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/niceonefransi/status/1014921309673918469
Another part of acting is ACTING. https://t.co/qvTAOisUxb
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
It's been established to the point that it's a cliche that an actor does not necessarily get a part because they are the most qualified. There are a multitude of political reasons behind the selection of a particular actor.
— Jared Purdy (@jaredpurdy) July 5, 2018
I’ve been acting for 45 years, making a living since I’m 28, made over 50 movies and over 100 Tv shows, as characters and as myself.
I know how it works. https://t.co/WrzN5GctzC— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
Do these people not understand the concept of "acting"? Should we only cast actual lawyers & criminals in courtroom dramas? Lawrence Olivier played a German Nazi dentist in one film & a Jewish Nazi-hunter, despite being neither German nor Jewish.
— John Sheridan (@JohnSheridan12) July 5, 2018
Exactly.
This isn’t about exclusion.
It’s about acting. https://t.co/iatyYoExng— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/kerplunkthemunk/status/1014925309961883649
If you had to be the character you portray, you could only play yourself. One job, no career. https://t.co/V7GTWzNBsR
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
Could Scarlett play a Jewish person, in your opinion? https://t.co/V7GTWzNBsR
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
And, #OscarsSoWhite can be used as an example to address other forms of marginalization and discrimination within the industry, such as trans/homophobia, Islamapobia.
— Jared Purdy (@jaredpurdy) July 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/davidjacksmith/status/1014923410965712898
My guess is, he was cast because the people making the movie thought he was the right ACTOR for the part. https://t.co/QFM8DabDxJ
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
Isn't acting about portraying a person you aren't that has different life experiences than you and maybe sees things in a different way?
— Jon (@faroutmadman) July 5, 2018
That’s a big part! And knowing how to act! How to perform. There’s a lot to it. And then the technical side.
And the ability to do it all instantly and effortlessly.
And then to take the directors notes and perform them, seconds later.
And etc. etc. https://t.co/cDH4uO6aGV— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
You mean like the issues behind #OscarsSoWhite or the women from Hollywood would who championed the #MeToo movement because of systemic gender discrimination? Having people in the industry who are gay does not address heterosexism anymore than having black actors addresses racism
— Jared Purdy (@jaredpurdy) July 5, 2018
As somebody (you) who is not in the Entertainment business and doesn’t know the people in it…
I cannot have an informed discussion with you about it. We disagree. https://t.co/FokqoQfACx— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
You know these roles are harmful to trans people right?That they solidify the public perception that trans men played by women are just actually women? Or do you just not care. Yeah I'd rather see a trans man play the role but It'd be better for any man to play a man than a woman
— Jessica Crets (@jessicacrets) July 5, 2018
How do you feel about Louis Anderson playing a woman (not trans) on the show “Baskets”?
Is that harmful to women? Or is that a casting choice for the part?
It’s called acting. It’s not real.
FYI.. he won an Emmy for it. https://t.co/uoA34ZbUiS— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
How can you judge a performance in a movie as harmful, when it hasn’t even been made yet? https://t.co/uoA34ZbUiS
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
You know these roles are harmful to trans people right?That they solidify the public perception that trans men played by women are just actually women? Or do you just not care. Yeah I'd rather see a trans man play the role but It'd be better for any man to play a man than a woman
— Jessica Crets (@jessicacrets) July 5, 2018
So, you’d rather see a man play a former woman than a woman play a trans man.
Ok… that’s a casting choice.
And your choice.
The people making the movie have made a difference casting choice. https://t.co/uoA34ZbUiS— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) July 5, 2018
There’s no doubt a lot more schooling to be done. Godspeed, Mr. Lovitz.
1) I’m very liberal, that’s who I am. But this nonsense uproar over #ScarlettJohansson playing a trans man is ridiculous! The people arguing against it are basically saying only a trans person should play the role, so trans people can only play trans people?! THAT limits…
— Philip Boyce (@PhilEdBoyce) July 5, 2018
2) … the career OF trans people! ?♂️ They should be able to audition/play whoever they want regardless of gender. If you agree but argue this casting you’ve double standards. But anyway this wasn’t open auditions! This is a project BY this actor & director. It wasn’t…
— Philip Boyce (@PhilEdBoyce) July 5, 2018
3) …open for anyone else any more than the director‘s job. It’s THEIR project! You’re basically arguing people should only be cast in roles that match who they are. They’re actors! ?♂️?♂️
— Philip Boyce (@PhilEdBoyce) July 5, 2018