Scarlett Johansson is gearing up to play a trans man in her forthcoming film Rug and Tug. This news has courted massive backlash for the actress-singer, with trans actors in Hollywood criticising the decision.

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A number of transgender actors took to Twitter to raise their voice against Johansson landing up the role. Jamie Clayton, a transgender actress, who starred in Netflix’s Sense 8 tweeted, “Actors who are trans never even get to audition FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN ROLES OF TRANS CHARACTERS. THAT’S THE REAL ISSUE. WE CANT EVEN GET IN THE ROOM. Cast actors WHO ARE TRANS as NON-TRANS CHARACTERS. I DARE YOU.”

Later, Clayton added, “Nowhere in this tweet did I say that S.J. shouldn’t play this character. I’m bringing attention to an issue that doesn’t get acknowledged. Hire actors who happen to be trans for ALL KINDS of roles and this issue goes away.”

Actors who are trans never even get to audition FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN ROLES OF TRANS CHARACTERS. THATS THE REAL ISSUE. WE CANT EVEN GET IN THE ROOM. Cast actors WHO ARE TRANS as NON TRANS CHARACTERS. I DARE YOU #RupertSanders @NewRegency #ScarlettJohansson https://t.co/RkrW8MeGcG

— Jamie Clayton (@MsJamieClayton) July 4, 2018

Nowhere in this tweet did I say that S.J. shouldn’t play this character. I’m bringing attention to an issue that doesn’t get acknowledged. Hire actors who happen to be trans for ALL KINDS of roles and this issue goes away. Until that happens, well, 🤷🏼‍♀️. @THR @Variety https://t.co/JNl4Uk9WrF

— Jamie Clayton (@MsJamieClayton) July 5, 2018

Transparent trans actress, Trace Lysette wrote, “Oh word?? So you can continue to play us but we can’t play y’all? I wouldn’t be as upset if I was getting in the same rooms as Jennifer Lawrence and Scarlett for cis roles, but we know that’s not the case. A mess.”

She added in a later tweet: “And not only do you play us and steal our narrative and our opportunity but you pat yourselves on the back with trophies and accolades for mimicking what we have lived . . . so twisted. I’m so done.”

Oh word?? So you can continue to play us but we can’t play y’all? Hollywood is so fucked… I wouldn’t be as upset if I was getting in the same rooms as Jennifer Lawrence and Scarlett for cis roles, but we know that’s not the case. A mess. https://t.co/s8gBlBI1Sw

— Trace Lysette (@tracelysette) July 4, 2018

Orange Is the New Black‘s Laverne Cox also took to Twitter and wrote, “A few weeks ago I was so emotional after watching#PoseFX. I said to myself “Now there are no excuses for not hiring trans actors for trans roles & as leads in films and TV. All this talent is proof that we can deliver & carry shows. We are talented, trained professional & ready.”<

A few weeks ago I was so emotional after watching #PoseFX. I said to myself “Now there are no excuses for not hiring trans actors for trans roles & as leads in films and TV. All this talent is proof that we can deliver & carry shows. We are talented, trained professional & ready

— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) July 6, 2018

This is a great idea. https://t.co/ezFd08ejmv

— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) July 5, 2018

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So far, Johansson has not said anything publicly but the actress told Bustle through her representative that “Tell them (trolls) they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman’s representatives for comment.”

The film Rub & Tug will tell the story of a transgender man, Dante ‘Tex’ Gill, who owned a massage parlour in Pittsburgh’s underground sex industry in the 1970s.