PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Scarlett Johansson has withdrawn from the film “Rub & Tug” after her plans to portray a transgender man prompted a backlash.
In a statement to Out.com on Friday, Johansson said she’s pulling out from the project “in light of recent ethical questions raised surrounding my casting.” Last week, Johansson said she would star as Pittsburgh 1970s and ’80s prostitution ring leader Dante “Tex” Gill, who was born Lois Jean Gill but identified as a man.
When transgender actors and advocates questioned the casting, Johansson initially responded with a statement that criticism “can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto and Felicity Huffman’s reps.” All have won acclaim for playing transgender characters.
“I’ve learned a lot from the community since making my first statement about my casting and realize it was insensitive,” said Johansson, who added that she had “great admiration and love for the trans community.”
Johansson also came under fire for playing an originally Asian character in the 2017 film “Ghost in the Shell.” That film’s director, Rupert Sanders, was also to lead on “Rub & Tug.”
Yvette Nicole Brown is interim guest host of ‘Walking Dead’
Yvette Nicole Brown is filling in for Chris Hardwick as host of “The Walking Dead” and “Talking Dead” while AMC Networks reviews sexual-assault allegations against Hardwick.
AMC announced Friday that Brown will be “interim guest host” of “The Walking Dead Season 9 Preview Special” on Aug. 5. Brown also will host “Talking Dead” on Aug. 12.