Last week, a trailer was released for the sequel of the iconic 14-year-old film, Zoolander.
While the teaser is only a mere 2.5 minutes, criticism has already ensued over the movie's representation gender - specifically over Benedict Cumberbatch's character, who acts as a trans / non-binary individual in the movie.
According to Fox News, the second instalment of the comedy film has been regarded as a "mockery of trans people."
Sarah Rose, an activist of the LGBTQ community created a petition to boycott the new film stating, "Cumberbatch’s character is clearly portrayed as an over-the-top, cartoonish mockery of androgyne/trans/non-binary individuals. This is the modern equivalent of using blackface to represent a minority.” The petition has so far garnered 10,000 signatures.
On the other hand, entertainment journalist Cate Meighan explains that the trailer is fine and inoffensive. “In 'Zoolander'-type films, the whole point is to make light of everyone on camera,” she said. “If it was a serious film and the trans character was a predictable caricature, then a realistic dialogue could follow, but in this instance I think people might need to not take this trailer quite so seriously.”
Angela Giampolo, attorney and LGBTQ activist said, “'Zoolander' is not the medium by which we should be teaching tolerance and/or educating the masses about transgender issues,” she said. “Moreover, there is something to be said for the fact that funny movies and satires have a role in mainstreaming hard to grasp issues.”
Despite these assertions, the political pop culture expert, Lisa Durden, counteracts this argument by stating that the trailer and Cumberbatch's character is in fact transphobic.“It's 2015 but for some reason the entertainment industry didn't get the memo that it's not OK to negatively depict any group or culture,” said Durden.
Jessica P. Ogilvie, a writer for Los Angeles Magazine sided with Durden, specifically because Penelope Cruz's character in the film was only portrayed in the trailer a minute in, and the line to introduce her was : "She's hot. I trust her."
Dan Gainor, VP of business and culture does not see anything wrong with the trailer, noting that Cruz is also an Oscar-winning actress.“I guess smart, successful and beautiful is 'sexist' now?” he said. “Sounds more like jealousy than movie criticism.”
The film is scheduled to release February 12.