Hollywood is once again at the center of a whitewashing controversy following the decision by Marty Supreme star Odessa A’zion to step away from a role amidst public criticism over her casting.

The 25-year-old actress had been slated to feature in a film adaptation of Holly Brickley’s novel “Deep Cuts.” However, just two days after the announcement of her involvement, Odessa took to Instagram on Thursday to announce her withdrawal from the project.

The controversy arose because Odessa was cast to portray Zoe Gutierrez, a character of Mexican descent and Jewish heritage in the novel, which led to widespread criticism.

In an extended message shared on her Instagram Stories, Odessa expressed remorse to her audience, acknowledging that she had not read the book prior to accepting the role. She explained that she initially auditioned for a different character before being offered the part of Zoe.

Odessa emphasized her commitment to diversity in casting, stating she would never intentionally take a role meant for someone else and acknowledged that there are many capable individuals who can authentically portray the character.

This is just the latest in a string of films that have been accused of whitewashing by fans, and just weeks after complaints that Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights had made a similar move, by casting Jacob Elordi as the racially ambiguous Heathcliff.

Hollywood has found itself on the brink of another whitewashing scandal, after Marty Supreme star Odessa A’zion revealed she was dropping out of a role after backlash over her casting

The Marty Supreme actress was set to star in an adaptation of Holly Brickley’s novel Deep Cuts, but on Thursday revealed she wouldn’t be moving forward with the film

Odessa was set to star opposite Drew Starkey and Cailee Spaeny in the 2000s-set story Deep Cuts about two music obsessed 20-somethings as they chase ambition, belonging and adulthood. Spaeny is set to play music critic Percy with Starkey as a songwriter and love interest. 

Odessa, who received a BAFTA nomination for her role in Marty Supreme, revealed she’d quit the film on Instagram, writing: ‘Guys!! I am with ALL of you and I am NOT doing this movie, f**k that I’m out!

‘THANK YOU guys for bringing this to my attention. I AGREE WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU! This is why I love you guys. I’m so sorry that this happened. 

‘It is SO important for me to let you in on how it all went down: I went in for Percy, but was offered Zoe instead and instantly said yes! I’m so pissed y’all, I hadn’t read the book and should have paid more attention to all aspects of Zoe before accepting…and now that I know what I know??? 

‘I’d never take a role from someone else that’s meant to do it. That SHOULD do it! That’s not me. There are a plentitude of people more than capable of playing this role and I am NOT one of them. I can’t wait to see who it ends up being.

‘I was so excited I just said hell yeah cause I knew how much I loved the story so I was just down to be a part of it, and so excited to work with this group of people! But f**k thatttt y’all never again!

‘I’ve been so busy with other work I was trying to carve out a time to re-read, I wish I found that time sooner and clocked her name.

‘That’s all that’s mentioned in the script when I just finally did. Thank you thank you THANK YOU GUYS FOR LETTING ME KNOW! 

Odessa’s casting sparked backlash as she was set to play Zoe Gutierrez, who is of Mexican heritage and is Jewish in the novel

In a lengthy post on Instagram Stories, Odessa apologised to her followers and admitted she ‘hadn’t read’ the book her role was based on

‘Still haven’t read the book but the story in the script is focused on Percy and Joe, so of course on my initial read that was my main focus as well. I was happy to be involved in a different role, but I just can not do it knowing more about Zoe now.

‘I love you guysss sleep tight.’

Daily Mail has contacted a representative for A24 for comment. 

Sean Durkin is currently attached to direct Deep Cuts, having previously worked on The Iron Claw and The Nest is set to direct from his own script. He is also producing with Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie.

Given Odessa’s casting had already sparked backlash, many reacted to her decision to drop out of the part.

They wrote on X: ”’I am with all of you” yet accepted the role in the first place;

‘It’s funny how she sais ‘I’m with all of you’ but she already accepted the role lol;

‘She shouldn’t have agreed to it if she wasn’t gonna do it.’ 

However, some praised her for the move, writing: ‘This is what actual allyship looks like. No PR statement, just a direct exit. Respect to Odessa for putting her career on the line for her values;

‘Respect her for listening, taking a stand, and stepping away. That’s not an easy decision;

‘This has to set a standard in Hollywood, don’t take roles that is not suitable for you. This is one of the reasons I’m not watching marvel wonder man series.’

Odessa is currently starring in the HBO series I Love LA, and as well as appearing opposite Timothee Chalamet in Marty Supreme, has starred in The Inhabitant and Until Dawn.

This is far from the first Hollywood production to face accusations of whitewashing in its casting, with Scarlett Johansson famously playing Major Motoko Kusanagi in Ghost In The Shell, a character typically depicted as Japanese.

Ed Skrein stepped down from the reboot of Hellboy in 2017 after he discovered that the character Major Ben Daimio was of Asian heritage.

Emma Stone’s casting in 2015’s Aloha also sparked criticism as she played a character of one-quarter Chinese and one-quarter Hawaiian descent.

This year’s Wuthering Heights adaptation has also been called out by social media users for its casting of Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi who are both white.

In the Emily Bronte novel, Catherine is a teenager, while Heathcliff is racially ambiguous and described as ‘dark-skinned’ in the novel.

Social media has not been kind to the casting, with one user commenting, ‘Not to be that one friend who is too woke but bleaching the class and racial otherness out of Wuthering Heights to sell a horny whitewashed romance genuinely pisses me off.’

This is just the latest in a string of films that have been accused of whitewashing by fans, and just weeks after complaints that Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights had made a similar move

Another wrote, ‘I will be complaining about Wuthering Heights for the foreseeable future as the very existence of a white Heathcliff offends me.’

A third commented, ‘I don’t care if this is seen as an ‘overreaction’ but this film has already filled me with actual rage LOL.

‘Heathcliff is not white (one of the MAIN themes of the novel), Catherine is supposed to be a teenager at OLDEST, and Wuthering Heights is not some booktok erotica bulls**t.’

Another wrote, ‘Margot Robbie 40 years old playing a character that dies at 18 … welcome back Evita 1996.’

A fifth commented, ‘The Wuthering Heights adaptation being an erotic drama directed by Emerald Fennell staring 35 year old Margot Robbie and pasty Jacob Elordi with original music by Charli XCX… BURN IT TO THE GROUND.’