Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry went on Twitter on Monday evening to issue an apology to the trans activist community amid a ferocious backlash for revealing she was considering a role as a transgender man that had been pitched to her recently, and compounding matters further by misgendering the proposed character.
Vowing to be an ally of the transgender community, Berry acknowledged that as a cisgender woman, she should not have considered the role, adding that the transgender community should “undeniably have the opportunity to tell their own stories."
Earlier, in a Friday Instagram Live interview for hair stylist Christin Brown, the Berry let slip that she might one day consider wearing her hair short for a particular role she had been pitched.
"I'm thinking of a character where this woman is transgender… She's a woman that transitioned into a man," said the actress, misgendering the proposed character by using the wrong pronouns.
Netizens had swooped down on the 53-year-old actress.
Many suggested Berry educate herself on trans issues by watching the documentary film “Disclosure”.
Some comments on social media sided with the actress, underscoring that the profession suggested being able to try out challenging roles.
The public apology by Halle Berry and her decision to stand down from the role that she claimed was pitched to her while she was working on her upcoming film, 'Bruised', slated to premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September, has been hailed by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
Even the filmmakers tweeted to applaud the actress for backing out of the proposed role.
In 2018 actress Scarlett Johansson had considered playing a transgender character in the film 'Rub and Tug' but backed out after her casting angered trans actors and activists.