The anger stemmed from people feeling cisgender men should not play trans characters (with some suggesting that it helped reinforce prejudices that trans people are merely wearing a costume), that the movie was playing with a dangerous trope of trans women as sex workers, and that by casting Bomer they had deprived a trans actress of what could have been her big break. Initially bother Bomer and executive producer Mark Ruffalo made no comment, but now Ruffalo has addressed the controversy on Twitter.
He says: ‘To the Trans community. I hear you. It’s wrenching to you see you in this pain. I am glad we are having this conversation. It’s time… In all honesty I suggested Matt for the role after the profound experience I had with him while making “The Normal Heart”.’
Some welcomed Ruffalo’s comments, such as trans actress Jen Richards. Her heartfelt anger at news of the casting was one of the main catalysts for the anger felt, with her comments including that ‘When @MattBomer plays a trans sex worker, he is telling the world that underneath it all, trans women like me are still really just men… Dear @MarkRuffalo & @MattBomer: if you release this movie, it will directly lead to violence against already at risk trans women.’ However, after Ruffalo spoke out, she replied, ‘Thank you @MarkRuffalo, this means a lot. I would love to talk to you about it, and how to move forward positively.’
However, others were less welcoming, suggesting that a conversation wasn’t what was needed – a change of direction was. As the movie is already in the can, it’s unlikely Bomer could be recast, but the hope will be that the protest will have an effect on both Anything and the casting/depiction of trans characters in the future.
To the Trans community. I hear you. It's wrenching to you see you in this pain. I am glad we are having this conversation. It's time.
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) August 31, 2016
In all honesty I suggested Matt for the role after the profound experience I had with him while making "The Normal Heart".
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) August 31, 2016
This doesn’t make sense since it would be like saying that a straight actor can’t play a gay role, and again it’s someone on twitter creating chaos and making it look it’s a bigger problem than what it really is.
Sadly the truth is that this angered trans actress that started it all is very likely only mad because they didn’t cast her.
all I keep thinking is -the plays the thing – what matters to me are the themes of the movie -not so much who is playing what character. It would matter if the story was non fiction. Let us hope that the film makes us think and will bear good fruit.