Mark Ruffalo Apologizes To Trans Community For Casting Matt Bomer As Trans Woman
Actor Mark Ruffalo has responded to the trans community’s critical response to the casting of actor Matt Bomer as a transgender sex worker in his new film, Anything.
“To the Trans community. I hear you,” Ruffalo, who is an executive producer on the project, wrote on Twitter Wednesday night, adding: “It’s wrenching to you see you in this pain. I am glad we are having this conversation. It’s time. In all honesty I suggested Matt for the role after the profound experience I had with him while making The Normal Heart.”
Mark Ruffalo ✔ @MarkRuffalo
In all honesty I suggested Matt for the role after the profound experience I had with him while making "The Normal Heart".
Mark Ruffalo ✔ @MarkRuffalo
To the Trans community. I hear you. It's wrenching to you see you in this pain. I am glad we are having this conversation. It's time.
According to EW: “Bomer’s character befriends a suicidal man who moves from Mississippi to Los Angeles after the death of his wife. It will be directed by Timothy McNeil, making his directorial debut as he adapts a script based on his play, which shares a title with the film.”
After news broke that Bomer will star as a transgender character in the film, Both Bomer and Ruffalo were inundated with criticism from members of the LGBT community about the casting. Many argued that a real trans woman should have been cast in the film instead of a cisgender actor.
“More cis men being sourced to play trans women. Hollywood, do better,” one user tweeted.
Actress Jen Richards added: “I auditioned for this. I told them they shouldn’t have a cis man play a trans woman. They didn’t care.”
Jen Richards @SmartAssJen
I auditioned for this. I told them they shouldn't have a cis man play a trans woman. They didn't care. https://twitter.com/transhollywood/status/769832160719015936 …
12:00 PM - 28 Aug 2016
Some labeled Ruffalo as a hypocrite:
Trans Hollywood @transhollywood
.@MarkRuffalo lip service to the trans community but when actually money and a job is involved -- he hires a cis guy
“There are many qualified trans actors and writers who could have played in and advised on the construction of the scenes you’re about to edit into a motion picture. They will lose more work because of this,” wrote trans musician Mya Byrne in a piece for Huffington Post. “We know you have good intentions. But those intentions have far-reaching after-effects that you, as cis men, don’t experience.”
To critics who are calling for the film to be recast and reshot, Ruffalo had this response:
Mark Ruffalo ✔ @MarkRuffalo
@Vodstok The movie is already shot and Matt poured his heart and soul into this part. Please have a little compassion. We are all learning.
Purple Tinker @prpltnkr
@MarkRuffalo @Vodstok "We are all learning" thing reminds me of when my Dad calls me by my old name A DECADE POST-TRANSITION & "apologises".
Bomer has yet to publicly comment on the ongoing controversy.
Source is ~learning.
“To the Trans community. I hear you,” Ruffalo, who is an executive producer on the project, wrote on Twitter Wednesday night, adding: “It’s wrenching to you see you in this pain. I am glad we are having this conversation. It’s time. In all honesty I suggested Matt for the role after the profound experience I had with him while making The Normal Heart.”
Mark Ruffalo ✔ @MarkRuffalo
In all honesty I suggested Matt for the role after the profound experience I had with him while making "The Normal Heart".
Mark Ruffalo ✔ @MarkRuffalo
To the Trans community. I hear you. It's wrenching to you see you in this pain. I am glad we are having this conversation. It's time.
According to EW: “Bomer’s character befriends a suicidal man who moves from Mississippi to Los Angeles after the death of his wife. It will be directed by Timothy McNeil, making his directorial debut as he adapts a script based on his play, which shares a title with the film.”
After news broke that Bomer will star as a transgender character in the film, Both Bomer and Ruffalo were inundated with criticism from members of the LGBT community about the casting. Many argued that a real trans woman should have been cast in the film instead of a cisgender actor.
“More cis men being sourced to play trans women. Hollywood, do better,” one user tweeted.
Actress Jen Richards added: “I auditioned for this. I told them they shouldn’t have a cis man play a trans woman. They didn’t care.”
Jen Richards @SmartAssJen
I auditioned for this. I told them they shouldn't have a cis man play a trans woman. They didn't care. https://twitter.com/transhollywood/status/769832160719015936 …
12:00 PM - 28 Aug 2016
Some labeled Ruffalo as a hypocrite:
Trans Hollywood @transhollywood
.@MarkRuffalo lip service to the trans community but when actually money and a job is involved -- he hires a cis guy
“There are many qualified trans actors and writers who could have played in and advised on the construction of the scenes you’re about to edit into a motion picture. They will lose more work because of this,” wrote trans musician Mya Byrne in a piece for Huffington Post. “We know you have good intentions. But those intentions have far-reaching after-effects that you, as cis men, don’t experience.”
To critics who are calling for the film to be recast and reshot, Ruffalo had this response:
Mark Ruffalo ✔ @MarkRuffalo
@Vodstok The movie is already shot and Matt poured his heart and soul into this part. Please have a little compassion. We are all learning.
Purple Tinker @prpltnkr
@MarkRuffalo @Vodstok "We are all learning" thing reminds me of when my Dad calls me by my old name A DECADE POST-TRANSITION & "apologises".
Bomer has yet to publicly comment on the ongoing controversy.
Source is ~learning.