Scarlett Johansson Shares Her Thoughts on The Confrontation Between Political Correctness and Art

Over the past few years, Scarlett Johansson has faced backlash on a couple of casting choices that have been made involving here. She’s faced whitewashing backlash for being cast as a cyborg in Ghost in the Shell and most recently she backed out of a role playing a transgender man, Dante "Tex" Gill, in the movie Rub & Tug.

Personally, I thought she was great in Ghost in the Shell. As for the Rub & Tug film, that movie was only going to get made with her involvement. There’s been no movement on it since she dropped out.

Johansson recently commented on the controversies that she’s been a part of and shared her frustration with the “politically correct” world we are living in. Here’s what she is originally quoted as saying in an interview with As If magazine (via Daily Mail):

“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.”

As you might imagine, she is getting a lot of heat from people for this statement. She has since come out and clarified her comments, and says this statement has been edited for click bait. She told Variety:

“An interview that was recently published has been edited for click bait and is widely taken out of context. 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 recognize that in reality, there is a wide spread discrepancy amongst my industry that favors Caucasian, cis gendered actors and that not every actor has been given the same opportunities that I have been privileged to,” she said. “I continue to support, and always have, diversity in every industry and will continue to fight for projects where everyone is included.”

She makes some very good points, especially in regards to the art of filmmaking. Art should be free of restrictions and immune to political correctness. I agree with that 100%.

We living in a complicated world where someone is always going to be offended by something someone says. It’s just the nature of the beast. Some people are just looking for a fight and that’s something that comes from all sides. Everyone has personal opinions and beliefs and people fight for those things that are true to them. As you know not everyone is going to agree with each other, but there can be respectable debates about these issues. However, as you know, most people just enjoy lashing out with hate.

Anyway, what do you think about the statement made by Johansson here? Do you agree with her? Do you disagree? Remember... respectable debates!