Scarlett Johansson has insisted her recent controversial quotes about how she should be able to play any role were “widely taken out of context”.
Last year, Scarlett faced a huge backlash when it was announced she would be playing a transgender man in the film Rub & Tug, a role which she eventually quit.
The actress then caused a stir after an interview she gave to As If magazine was published, in which she said: “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.
“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.
“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.”
Following the controversy created by her comments, Scarlett has now issued a statement to clarify what she actually meant, accusing the media of using her words for “clickbait”.
“An interview that was recently published has been edited for clickbait and is widely taken out of context,” she maintained.
“The question I was answering in my conversation with the contemporary artist, David Salle, was about the confrontation between political correctness and art.
“I personally feel that, in an ideal world, any actor should be able to play anybody and art, in all forms, should be immune to political correctness. That is the point I was making, albeit didn’t come across that way.
“I recognise that in reality, there is a wide spread discrepancy amongst my industry that favours Caucasian, cisgender actors and that not every actor has been given the same opportunities that I have been privileged to.”
As well as the Rub & Tug controversy, Scarlett has previously faced criticism for accepting certain roles, including the 2017 film The Ghost In The Shell, in which she played a character that had been initially written as Asian.
