Mark Ruffalo has been taking heat from the transgender community after news emerged that Matt Bomer had been cast as a trans character in “Always”, the upcoming film on which Ruffalo is exec producer.
RELATED: Caitlyn Jenner: It Was Easier To Come Out As Trans Than As A Republican
One of the more vocal critics of the move is trans actress Jen Richards, who tweeted that she auditioned for the role. “I auditioned for this,” she tweeted. “I told them they shouldn’t have a cis man play a trans woman. They didn’t care.”
Meanwhile, others on Twitter implied Ruffalo is a hypocrite, bringing up previous tweets in which he supports the trans community and dismissing it as “lip service.”
Ruffalo took to Twitter to address the controversy, explaining why Bomer was cast in a role that members of the trans community feel should have gone to a transgender actress.
“To the Trans community. I hear you,” Ruffalo writes. “It’s wrenching to you see you in this pain. I am glad we are having this conversation. It’s time,” he wrote, adding. “In all honesty I suggested Matt for the role after the profound experience I had with him while making ‘The Normal Heart’.”
However, the debate is pretty much moot, as Ruffalo points out the film has already been shot, asking his critics to “please have a little compassion. We are all learning.”
