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SCARLETT JOHANSSON RESPONDS TO BACKLASH IN CASTING CONTROVERSY: Scarlett Johansson has had her share of casting criticism (most recently, she got dragged for doing “white face” in Ghost in the Shell), and now she is in hot water for choosing to play a transgender man in the forthcoming Rub & Tug. April Reign, who launched the #OscarsSoWhite campaign, tweeted, “Scarlett Johansson received considerable backlash for Ghost in the Shell, when she played a whitewashed Asian character. The movie tanked. Undeterred, she has teamed up WITH THE SAME DIRECTOR to play a trans male character in Rub & Tug.” She also pointed to what she thought of as Johansson’s tone-deaf response to the backlash through her rep: “Tell them that they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto and Felicity Huffman‘s reps for comment.” ScarJo is referring, of course, to other Hollywood stars who’ve played trans characters. What say you? (Deadline)
WEINSTEIN LAWYER SPEAKS OUT OVER LANTERN CAPITAL FRAUD ALLEGATIONS: The lead attorney in a class action lawsuit filed against Harvey Weinstein is voicing concern over the allegations of corruption and racism against the firm set to buy The Weinstein Company. Lantern Capital was slapped with a $110M suit Monday. Cris Armenta, the lawyer for six women who are suing Weinstein in a separate case, issued a statement: “We wish this deal would go to close for the benefit of all the unsecured creditors. However, I have always been suspicious about the debtors’ hostility to making justice happen. Our clients only care about justice and their voices. … The recent allegation of racism only calls more into question the misogyny that has been TWC’s legacy. We stand together: Race, Gender, LGBTQ. We are one.” In May, a bankruptcy court approved the sale of TWC’s assets to Lantern. TBD if the deal will make it through the lawsuits and hurdles. (Deadline)
3 ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY KIDNAPPING DAISY MCCRACKIN: Halloween: Resurrection star Daisy McCrackin was allegedly kidnapped, along with fellow actor Joseph Capone in May. Two men, Keith Stewart and Johntae Jones, and one woman, Amber Neal, allegedly kidnapped, assaulted, drugged and abused them. They have been collectively charged with 17 felony counts, including grand theft, mayhem, kidnapping and assault with a firearm. The suspect Stewart was descibed as allegedly “unlawfully and maliciously” depriving “Joseph Capone of a member of the body.” Reports indicate that the body part the police report is referring to is an eye. He was then kept naked without food in a tub for 30 hours. During his time in captivity, his tongue was reportedly cut and disabled. The kidnappers ultimately demanded $10,000 in exchange for the actors’ freedom. All three suspects are currently in jail and are scheduled to be in court for a pretrial hearing July 23rd. (NBC)
THE SOPRANOS PREQUEL LANDS A DIRECTOR: The Sopranos is officially getting a prequel. Creator David Chase and writer Lawrence Konner have penned a screenplay about the DiMeo family before Tony Soprano took over. The working title is The Many Saints of Newark, and HBO vet Alan Taylor is in as the film’s director. He directed nine episodes of The Sopranos. (Vulture)
