Halle Berry Pulls Out of Transgender Film Role After Backlash

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GLAAD responds to Halle Berry dropping out of a transgender role: 'We are pleased that Halle Berry listened to the concerns of transgender people and learned from them. Other powerful people should do the same'

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has pulled out of a role in an upcoming film in which she’d play a transgender character after facing backlash online.

In an Instagram live interview on Friday, the actor said she had been preparing for the role, but had not been officially cast. “[It’s] a character where the woman is a trans character, so she’s a woman that transitioned into a man. She’s a character in a project I love that I might be doing,” Berry had said. She added that she wanted to take a “deep dive” into “that world,” likely referring to the trans community.

However, Berry faced backlash online after misgendering the character multiple times during the interview.On Monday night, she issued an apology and pulled out of the role, saying “the transgender community should undeniably have the opportunity to tell their own stories.”“Over the weekend I had the opportunity to discuss my consideration of an upcoming role as a transgender man, and I’d like to apologize for those remarks.

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Awww. 14 years ago, Felicity Huffman won a Golden Globe and got a nomination for an Academy Award for her critically acclaimed role as a transgender woman in the independent film Transamerica (2005). I'm sorry you live in 2020, Ms. Berry 🤷

I missed the memo where kick-ass acting is socially unacceptable

We live in an awful time where an actor can’t play a transgender because in real life it’s not one. Despite you know, being an ACTOR. That’s just sad.

Anyway, we love a queen

Transgender Film Role Still Pregnant

Coward.

Snowflakes strike again! Pussification of America continues.

😂😂😂😂😂😂🍆

Michael French was a gay English actor who played the part of a straight man in a popular British soap. Where are the complaints about this

I'm assuming only stright actors can play stright roles now, is that right?

Well, what if there is no transgender actor good enough for the role? Is there going to be no film? Or not that role?

This movie just lost millions of dollars. And does this mean trans people can only play trans people in movies?doesnt leave a lot of room for opportunity.

Lol this shit is ridiculous.

Just say you’re trans, and you are apparently

Give me a fucking break, there's nothing wrong with a cisgender playing a transgender, it's acting. If anything a transgender playing a transgender shows their lack of talent more than anything.

I’m confused. If trans women are real women why can’t Halle take the role? She’s a real woman, right?

I don’t think she meant any harm. Love her 🙌🏼

Stop the insanity. Please.

Why can't she do it. I thought people wanted to do away with genders altogether.

Hollywood too scared to do anything right now 😭 😭

This is stupid. Actors and actresses act. Sane people don’t expect them to be what they play. Are all lesbian and gay men going to quit playing straight people. We only expect good performances.

So a woman can’t pretend to be a man?

A very US issue, since american acting is based on transformism and playing somebody else. In Europe actors mostly do the same part they play in real life. Trans people been doing trans characters for like 50 years in Europe and South America.

Is it TO PAINFUL to say shes a WOMAN?! WTF

....... they picked her to get people into the movie theater. people won't go to Unknown People movies

Ms Berry was getting a role due to her amazing acting abilities that are almost guaranteed to be well polished. That doesn’t mean trans people can’t act.

It’s called acting for a reason what’s next banning all films where actors pretend to be someone else lol 😂

I'm glad she's dropped out for her own safety from the trolls and the 'woke' Let's hope they get the right person for the role

How stupid Hollywood is. From now on Hamlet can only be played by a Danish Prince.

It’s not a role a woman would be flattered to be offered anyway. It means you look like a woman who used to look like a man.

Do we go as far as Glenn Close issuing an apology for having played a small male part in Hook?

Then trans people can ONLY play trans characters, gay people can only play gay characters. Fuck it, only barbers can play barbers and only serial killers get to play serial killers. Only people that have lived through that reality are now allowed to play the role.

Just get your tits out halleberry it’s the best I’ve seen you act 😘

Well guess we wont see any trans actors playing anything but trans roles from now on

nycsouthpaw 'Cisgender?' I give up.

we are not saying that outright people can't play trans people and vice versa , but trans representation in the acting biz is so fucking little that don't you think that trans people should be able to tell their own stories? considering our experience is so misconstrued already?

So we're now removing the 'act' from actor?

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Dear Lord 😑🔫 Make it stop 😓

Mom

Lol

So now the trans community is barred from taking on a role of a cisgendered person? I don’t get how this helps the trans community in the slightest.

This is the absolute dumbest story. I want Tom Cruise to kill the new Top Gun movie because he has no idea what it is the be in the military! I want people who are not paralyzed to stop playing roles in wheelchairs- my brother is paralyzed and they have no idea what it is like.

No. You're just a woman. Not a Cisgender anything

Ummmm....accolades last time...now not pc...

She isn't a mutant nor does she have super powers. When is the apology for accepting the role of Storm in X-Men coming?

TananariveDue why are all the people in these replies acting like they aren’t transphobic. trans people should tell their own stories. what is hard to comprehend about this?

I thought they were actors?

Thank you

THE TRANSGENDER MOVEMENT just lost BLACK PEOPLE's support. It's OFFICIALLY a form of WhiteGayPrivilege GayWhiteSupremacy as LGBTQ does soooooooooo little for BlackTrans that Black Transgender attacks LGBTQ for it as well. BlackTwitter StayWoke GayWhitePrivlege

LGBTQ JUST LOST BLACK PEOPLE'S SUPPORT: NOW WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT NO BIRACIAL PEOPLE take roles as AfricanAmerican NO MORE GAYS taking roles of STRAIGHT PEOPLE. LGBTQ just DECLARED WAR on BlackPeople BlackTwitter

She's not 'cisgender'. Shame so many just swallow this crap.

WTF is cis-gender

But, you’re an actor. Playing something you’re not is your job description.

It's called acting! U act as someone u are not! This is ridiculous. If she played a lesbian or a crackhead or an elderly it would be ok right?

Just stupid. Anyone can play anyone. Its playing a role. You know...acting...like pretend. No need for apologies Halle.

IamGMJohnson I ❤ halleberry 🙌...but are we gonna now place limitations on what type of work actor's should do? If their real life does not mimic a 'character's life' then they shouldn't take an ACTING role!?! So gays will no longer play straights too, right!?!... ija 🤷‍♂️

It's unfortunate Halle let herself get browbeat out of a job.

Oh, good grief.

It’s called acting and not a documentary... ok fine I guess she can never play anyone other then her dumb ass. She was never an assassin in real life or a cat women ...

'cisgender' ? WTF is THAT!!

Bravo

nycsouthpaw That was quick

I’m a little confused. The whole idea of Acting is to become a person that you’re not. If that’s the case regardless of color, creed, gender or sexuality should you not go out of your way to find the right person for the job? Case in point Eddie Redmayne in Danish Girl?

Eh

I find the backlash ridiculous well for one she is an actress then what people are going after Hollywood for people dressing up in drag. Also how many transgenders do want to be actors or is even picked for a particular role. If you want more transgender actors then make more.

as great as this is let’s go other queer roles played by straight actors next! do them next!

WTH is cisgender...

I don't get it. I didn't see the disrespect

Call me, halleberry. I miss you...

Would not have been a good move for her anyway.

You’re an amazing actress, you could play a steak knife if you like. That’s the whole thing w acting, right? It’s not real.

Why are trans people allowed to attack, demean, and a black women for stating she wanted a movie role, and why is it celebrated? So black lives matter until we pick movie roles? Yall are just looking for reasons to hate people and destroy people under the guise of justice

Wait, so she’s an actual mutant who can control the weather?

What a coward

Transgender crazy

Guys seriously. We don't cast white guys in black face as black characters and it would be very fucked up to just have native american characters played by non native americans, there are plenty of talented trans actors, let them act

That's good. I still haven't forgiven her for playing Catwoman when she's obviously not a cat.

No issue with her playing a trans character. Her comments though are lame and she should apologize for that instead.

You can tell her publicist wrote this 😂. Had it been me I wouldve told them to go fuck themselves. 'Im an actress. I get paid to act. ' She didnt even say anything offensive but this generation of crybabies find offense in everything. So yea. Esp the lame online trans police

now i'm in two minds about his since if the character was a work of fiction then she should be allowed to play the part but with that being said if the character was based on or inspired by a real person then yes a trans actor should be playing the part

I’m convinced rich people’s TVs are all stuck on the Rolls-Royce channel & they can‘t find the remote. That must be why they can be so out of touch with issues the rest of society has been publicly entrenched in forever. PS: Look at the transphobes pretending to be Halle stans…

Then why do the gay men in Hollywood get to play it straight in movies ALL THE TIME? Shouldn't straight men get to tell their own stories? They get a free pass? I'm gay...and this crap is HYPOCRISY. Can't have it both ways.

Great! Can we make a list of trans people across the world who have acting experience but have previously not had the chance to get a foot in the door, so that we become visible to agencies? I'll be on the list.

The problem I have with this, is I feel like these big name actors only go for these roles cause it’s basically a shoe in for an academy nominee or just the praise. I understand there needs to be more representation.

As usual the replies are full of people not getting that this would have: 1) Given the impression that 'trans men are just women, really' 2) Taken up a role that a trans man should actually have a shot at getting That's why she shouldn't have taken the role.

I thought we were all genderless now

You say she made the right choice, but the sad truth is the project is probably just dead now. Is it better to get the story told and help better educate people, or have it sit on shelf and never get made?

You're a woman, stop pandering to a loud and aggressive very small movement .

YES! Get a real transgender to play the role that way no one will ever see it or care...

Now what the hell is cisgender ?

So she’s now only going to play roles for straight blackwoman? I thought acting was about pretending?

Anyone else getting tired of this trans shite yet?

Shame, shame, shame.

I identify as an actor. All actor roles should go to me!

Ok, then if only trans people can play trans charatcers and only gay people can play gay charcters, can we just stop changing charcters in fictions race/gender/whatever when we make adaptations and stick 100% to the way it was written? Or is that considered wrong?

sounds like a Blockbuster film. NOT

Good for you, Halle.

Let her act. That’s what actors do. They take on a role and portray that character. They do not have to be the subject that they are portraying. This backlash is getting silly. She would have given an interesting performance and now we won’t get to see it. 🙄🍿

bullshit

Let her act. That’s what actors do. They take on a role and portray that character. They do not have to be the subject that they are portraying. This bs lash is getting silly. She would have given an interesting performance and now we won’t get to see it.

Let’s count the years that go by as Rub a Tug never gets made. Let’s see how many studios and networks stop making movies with trans leads because they know they’ll never find the right actor. There’s your real backlash. It’s very quiet.

Halle is a class act. ⭐️ ⭐️

“Now understand” are celebrities really that far removed from reality? How many times has this happened before? Was she that oblivious to the Scarlet Johansson mess or JK Rowling’s recent terf outrage? It’s like they only bother listening when it’s about them.

Then let them write their own stories, direct their own stories and act out their own stories. That’ll be wonderful.

‘Cis gender’..... no such thing. Another word play invention of division....

See how easy it is to learn, admit your mistake, and be a decent person JOANNE.

Okay, what about the part where you're a woman playing the type of man whose manhood is constantly under scrutiny? Cause that was the even bigger issue tbh.

I know this is a dumb pet peeve/incomparable, lbut for those who don’t understand this,a lot of non-southern actors bug the shit out of me bc their fake accents tend to turn us into cartoon characters of tired stereotypes. This can be genuinely dangerous for marginalized groups

I have started my own film production company called Magna Mater Pictures LLC. I am focusing on giving opportunities to women, LGBTQ+, and minorities. Please check out my Indiegogo to help me.Thank you!

Glad she came around..

Now they will do one of two things. They will find another actor/actress with name recognition, or they simply won’t make the movie.

Good because nope

Stupid. People don't know what acting means anymore. If they are being respectful to the character I don't see the issue. I guess we can't have straight people play gays or vice versa anymore too. The cartoon VOICE thing was bad enough. Jesus People think

Totally agree.

Haha. This is so fucking dumb. For many reasons.

played an assassin just fine in a movie unless you’re really an assassin and now i’m dead 😵

WOMAN, you are a WOMAN Halle, not cis

nycsouthpaw Great idea. Actors should reject all roles that do not perfectly fit their personal identity and experience. Any actor who tries to act like something other than themselves should be canceled.

🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

This means that no transgender can play a cisgender woman? It's called acting for a reason, I understand the representation part, but in the end, trying to say handicap people need to do their roles, transgender their roles, cis their roles, Hollywood stars/names bring 💰💰

She made the right choice

nycsouthpaw I'm going to take massive amounts of grief for this but... Is it still even acting if the actors are basically already like the characters? I get the fact that minorities like trans folks have trouble finding work in showbiz, but do we really want everything type-cast?

nycsouthpaw

Okay. Blocked and byeeeeeee Halle.

Good for you Halle! Smart move. 👍

Does this mean that only straight people can play straight people, only gays can play gays etc etc? Being a parent of a transgenger child (23) I’m all for more roles for trans people, but actors shouldn’t be limited to just their own gender/sexuality.

When I first heard I was like “DA FUCK !!” .. thnx Halle

rolls eyes anything to get her name out there

Y’all are annoying af

themelaniedione I think she made a good choice. Trans ppl often complain about not getting tv roles so if directors want to potray transgender people in their films, those roles should be exclusively be for trans ppl.

I love her, but am glad that Hollywood elites are being put in their place. Now what about, Kimmel, how’s he getting a pass, did his “misjudgments”?

Good for you, Halle.

Tf is cisgender?

Yes ....with so much class and respect...

lol

Now there is a such thing is gender appropriation? I can’t anymore.

Men are men and women are women. DNA doesn’t lie.

Cyber bullying

It's not just that. It creates this stigma that being trans is like a costume or something. Which is just extremely problematic and it has to stop.

Hmmm isn’t that the whole point of actors ... to play a role. halleberry Give her credit for trying.

Actually what's going on about Scarlett Johnson's project that she was going to play transgender? Any update? Or is it buried under the six ground? Actually you know what? It doesn't seem like anyone cares anymore. That's the reality. 💁‍♂️

Why not just cast a transgender actor🤔🤔

Why do transgendered people want to become Hollywood actors? Acting is a very taxing profession. It doesn't seem very profitable because less than 1% of people in America are transgendered. Why would we want to create one-hit wonders in Hollywood? That's somebody's livelihood.

Well, that was quick. What's the record?

It seems like everyone here is a lil confused.

Disagree. HB should have stood her ground. Because acting is ALL ABOUT being someone you are NOT. Joanne Woodward portrayed 7 different personalities in a film role. sally_field also portrayed several personalities in one body. Jake Gyllenhaal and H. Ledger were not gay! SMH. 🤔

Just because she's a dead fish dont mean she should play a man

Has she been living under a rock?! How could she not already know this?

Good.

I would have preferred if she stayed in the movie in a different role. Will this film even get made now?

HalleBerry Ya know Halle can't really control the weather. But she played Storm in X-Men. So yeah...

Even HalleBerry can be cancelled...🤪

Why shouldn’t a woman play a woman in a movie?

Correction: we don't have to wage our campaign to cancel you now.

Other people should grow a backbone and learn how to stand up to bullies.

So I guess gender appropriation exists then.

glaad has been overtaken by far left extremists, it is such a shame they have abdicated their mission.

Give me a break took the role without a second thought now won’t do the role shouldn’t accepted in the first place

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