Arts & Entertainment
Mark Ruffalo responds to Matt Bomer casting controversy
actor says ‘I hear you’
(Screenshot via YouTube)
Mark Ruffalo addressed the transgender community on Twitter in response to the controversy surrounding the decision to cast Matt Bomer as a transgender character in his upcoming film,”Anything.”
Bomer plays a transgender sex worker in the film who strikes a friendship with a suicidal man played by John Carroll Lynch. The casting choice sparked outrage due to a cisgender actor portraying a transgender character. Ruffalo, an executive producer on the film, took to Twitter to respond to those concerns.
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
Ruffalo continued on that Bomer was chosen for the role because the pair had previously starred together in “The Normal Heart.”
Reactions varied with one tweet pointing out Ruffalo had tweeted his support for the transgender community in the past but still chose to cast a cisgender actor. Another tweet mentioned that the topic has been talked about before but still no progress has been made.
.@MarkRuffalo lip service to the trans community but when actually money and a job is involved — he hires a cis guy pic.twitter.com/OBcUAMOX2b
— Trans Hollywood (@transhollywood) August 28, 2016
@MarkRuffalo it’s happened too many times. We’ve had this conversation. TOO. MANY. TIMES. You don’t hear us at all, do you?
— ~ scotty ~ (@irlsuperman) August 31, 2016
One user tweeted if the role could be recast, but Ruffalo responded it’s too late to make changes.
@Vodstok The movie is already shot and Matt poured his heart and soul into this part. Please have a little compassion. We are all learning.
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) August 31, 2016
Others accepted Ruffalo’s response such as “Sense8” star and transgender actress Jen Richards. Richards had publicly criticized the casting choice, tweeting Bomer her disappointment and making a YouTube video addressing the problem with casting cisgender actors in transgender roles.
Thank you @MarkRuffalo, this means a lot. I would love to talk to you about it, and how to move forward positively. https://t.co/tYOHdlHn2W
— Jen Richards (@SmartAssJen) August 31, 2016
Bomer has not yet publicly commented on the controversy.
The Freddie’s Follies drag show was held at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Va. on Saturday, Jan. 3. Performers included Monet Dupree, Michelle Livigne, Shirley Naytch, Gigi Paris Couture and Shenandoah.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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Queer highlights of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards: Aunt Gladys, that ‘Heated Rivalry’ shoutout and more
Amy Madigan’s win in the supporting actress category puts her in serious contention to win the Oscar for ‘Weapons’
From Chelsea Handler shouting out Heated Rivalry in her opening monologue to Amy Madigan proving that horror performances can (and should) be taken seriously, the Critics Choice Awards provided plenty of iconic moments for queer movie fans to celebrate on the long road to Oscar night.
Handler kicked off the ceremony by recapping the biggest moments in pop culture last year, from Wicked: For Good to Sinners. She also made room to joke about the surprise hit TV sensation on everyone’s minds: “Shoutout to Heated Rivalry. Everyone loves it! Gay men love it, women love it, straight men who say they aren’t gay but work out at Equinox love it!”
The back-to-back wins for Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein and Amy Madigan in Weapons are notable, given the horror bias that awards voters typically have. Aunt Gladys instantly became a pop culture phenomenon within the LGBTQ+ community when Zach Cregger’s hit horror comedy released in August, but the thought that Madigan could be a serious awards contender for such a fun, out-there performance seemed improbable to most months ago. Now, considering the sheer amount of critics’ attention she’s received over the past month, there’s no denying she’s in the running for the Oscar.
“I really wasn’t expecting all of this because I thought people would like the movie, and I thought people would dig Gladys, but you love Gladys! I mean, it’s crazy,” Madigan said during her acceptance speech. “I get [sent] makeup tutorials and paintings. I even got one weird thing about how she’s a sex icon also, which I didn’t go too deep into that one.”
Over on the TV side, Rhea Seehorn won in the incredibly competitive best actress in a drama series category for her acclaimed performance as Carol in Pluribus, beating out the likes of Emmy winner Britt Lower for Severance, Carrie Coon for The White Lotus, and Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us. Pluribus, which was created by Breaking Bad’s showrunner Vince Gilligan, has been celebrated by audiences for its rich exploration of queer trauma and conversion therapy.
Jean Smart was Hack’s only win of the night, as Hannah Einbinder couldn’t repeat her Emmy victory in the supporting actress in a comedy series category against Janelle James, who nabbed a trophy for Abbott Elementary. Hacks lost the best comedy series award to The Studio, as it did at the Emmys in September. And in the limited series category, Erin Doherty repeated her Emmy success in supporting actress, joining in yet another Adolescence awards sweep.
As Oscar fans speculate on what these Critics Choice wins mean for future ceremonies, we have next week’s Golden Globes ceremony to look forward to on Jan. 11.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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