Odessa A’zion has exited A24’s upcoming film Deep Cuts following online backlash over her casting as Zoe Gutierrez, a character described in Holly Brickley’s source novel as half-Mexican and half-Jewish.
Background of the Film
Deep Cuts is a coming-of-age romance set in the early 2000s, adapting Holly Brickley’s 2023 novel about two music-obsessed young adults navigating ambition, relationships, and adulthood.Directed by Sean Durkin (The Iron Claw, The Nest), the A24 production stars Cailee Spaeny as Percy and Drew Starkey as a songwriter love interest, with filming originally set for February. A’zion, known for Marty Supreme and I Love LA, was announced for a significant role shortly before the controversy.
The Casting Controversy
The backlash erupted after A’zion’s casting as Zoe Gutierrez, criticized as whitewashing since the character is half-Mexican and half-Jewish in the book, while A’zion is Jewish but not Mexican.Social media reactions included calls for Latina actresses like Melissa Barrera or Eiza González, with some accusing erasure of representation; others noted the script may no longer specify ethnicity and questioned the outrage’s nuance. Even A’zion’s fan pages paused activity in protest, citing U.S. political context.
A’zion’s Response and Exit
A’zion announced her voluntary withdrawal via Instagram Stories, stating, “I am with ALL of you and I am NOT doing this movie. F–k that. I’m out,” and later expressing regret for not reading the novel beforehand.She apologized to fans, agreed with the criticism, and supported recasting with someone matching the character’s background.
Production Status and Reactions
Production is expected to proceed as planned without delays, though no replacement has been announced. Opinions remain divided: some view the exit as accountability for representation, while others call it excessive online pressure overriding creative decisions.
