Scarlett Johansson is playing a transgender person in a movie - and people are angry about it

Movie star Scarlett Johansson is being criticized heavily for her newest role - a transgender person.

Here's why this a no-no

Members of the LGBTQ community and their allies saw the casting as insensitive because they preferred that a transgender role be played by a transgender actor. Many noted that Johansson, who is white, had been criticized for portraying an Asian character in "Ghost in the Shell."

Movie reviewer Valerie Complex responded, "First the Japanese, and now Scarlett Johansson is taking on the trans community with her new film Rub and Tug. I can't wait until her Rosa Parks film comes out."

Comedian Faith Choyce said, "Scarlett Johansson is playing a trans man in her next movie because her ultimate career goal is to take an acting job from a member of each and every marginalized group."

Screenwriter Steven Canals responded, "We have to stop hiring non-trans actors to play trans characters. In my opinion, it's equally as traumatic & offensive as black-face. It also shows how lazy, unwoke, and complicit in transphobia you are."

A defiant shade of Scarlett

When pressed for a comment, Johansson released a very defiant statement referencing other "cisgender" actors who had portrayed transgender characters to popular acclaim.

"Tell them that they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman's reps for comment," she said.

This further angered some of her critics.

Comedian Riley Silerman responded, "The "f**king hubris of invoking Tambor with this response when he was literally fired from playing a trans woman for sexually harassing several of us. Way to really underline that you openly disdain the community you’re happy to portray for prestige ScarJo."

Here's a video about the controversy over her last movie: