Culture

Scarlett Johansson Thinks She Should Be ‘Allowed To Play’ Anyone And Anything, Including Trees

Watching Scarlett Johansson's career is like watching someone flail about on the dance floor, hitting everyone around them and taking up too much room, then arguing the bouncers are stifling their freedom of expression.

by Amanda Yeo  14 July 2019
Scarlett Johansson

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Watching Scarlett Johansson’s career is like watching someone flail about on the dance floor, hitting everyone around them and taking up way too much room, then arguing the bouncers are stifling their creative expression.

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Though Scarlett Johansson is most widely known for playing Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, she’s almost as well known for taking roles she really has no business taking.

The actress received substantial backlash for accepting the role of Major Motoko Kusanagi in the 2017 film Ghost in the Shell, with many upset at the whitewashing of this rare Asian leading role.

Then last year, Johansson withdrew from playing a trans man in upcoming film Rub & Tug, though she initially defended her casting.

Upon stepping down from the role, Johansson told Out she was “thankful that this casting debate, although controversial, has sparked a larger conversation about diversity and representation in film”. Now, speaking to As If magazine (via The Daily Mail), she seems unhappy that the conversation isn’t going her way.

“You know, as an actor I should be allowed to play any person, or any tree, or any animal because that is my job and the requirements of my job,” said Johansson, demonstrating an astounding resilience against learning despite her very public lessons.

“I feel like it’s a trend in my business and it needs to happen for various social reasons, yet there are times it does get uncomfortable when it affects the art because I feel art should be free of restrictions.”

Johansson’s statements appear ignorant of the many restrictions placed upon diverse artists. The opportunities for minority actors are few and far between, but the “trend” of representation and sensitivity in casting has helped to increase them. Casting minority actors has also provided positive representation for minority groups, which has positive impacts on society.

The ability of actors such as Johansson to find work isn’t significantly impacted by casting minority actors in minority roles. But when such actors take these roles, they shove diverse artists to the periphery of the floor and discourage others from even dreaming they could dance. After all, if they won’t cast an Asian as an Asian or a trans man as a trans man, what hope do Asian and trans actors have?

“I think society would be more connected if we just allowed others to have their own feelings and not expect everyone to feel the way we do,” said Johansson, which is practically the motto of people with terrible opinions.

It’s just as well she thinks that though, because a lot of people don’t feel the way she does.