Shia LaBeouf's new movie 'The Tax Collector' called out: '#Brownfacing 2020 style'
Shia LaBeouf’s new movie, the crime drama The Tax Collector, isn’t expected to be released until August, but it’s already causing controversy.
The trailer for the latest from director David Ayer, who also helmed Street Kings, End of Watch and Suicide Squad, promptly led social media to ask why LaBeouf is “brownfacing.”
Ayers himself appeared to respond, but his answer didn’t stop the debate. He said that he “grew up hood,” even though he’s white, because Chicano culture is inclusive. Still, his comments sparked a conversation about whether a Latino actor should have been cast instead of LaBeouf. There was also talk about whether LaBeouf is, in fact, the lead.
In the trailer, LaBeouf is the actor featured most prominently and he plays the character mentioned in the movie title, but actor Bobby Soto, who is Latino is often alongside him and also featured on the movie poster.
Really important answer - Shia is playing a whiteboy who grew up in the hood. This is a Jewish dude playing a white character. Also the only white dude in the movie 💁?♂? https://t.co/PS6foJwQXV
— David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) July 1, 2020
I grew up hood and I’m a whiteboy. Chicano culture is inclusive - I’ve seen whiteys, Asians, Blacks, Filipinos all putting in work for the hood. It’s part of street culture. https://t.co/PS6foJwQXV
— David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) July 1, 2020
You just told them. It ain’t a cop movie. And Shia is playing something very specific. Not brown face. https://t.co/MZMugrPu9r
— David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) July 2, 2020
That didn’t stop the criticism.
Oh hey, another movie w/ Latinos and Blacks in glorified gang culture on steroids that reinforces stereotypes & fears for white folks & promotes the cop mentality that “it’s a battlefield out there.” Sigh.....Hollywood, come on. We don’t need this right now. https://t.co/NDk83cql0c
— Memo Torres (@el_tragon_de_LA) July 2, 2020
#brownfacing 2020 style https://t.co/WL98fxP5iP
— Mexican Judge (@laloalcaraz) July 2, 2020
WTF is this! Why is Shia Labeouf imitating a “cholo” accent? Why did the white director say he studied a real life cholo so he gets pass? STOP MAKING MOVIES WHERE LATINOS ARE ALWAYS DRUG DEALERS OR GANGTERS! We are more than that! https://t.co/lRdJO2URXb
— ?Ruben? (@rbnfranco) July 2, 2020
Yahoo Entertainment has reached out to both Ayer and LaBeouf for comment.
The casting criticism comes as the entertainment industry and others have a racial reckoning. Just last week, white actors Kristen Bell and Jenny Slate announced separately that they would no longer voice characters of color on animated shows. There was news that former shows Mad Men and Golden Girls would include a disclaimer about blackface when they air in reruns. And celebrities including Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey, apologized for any pain they caused by using blackface on previous shows.
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