Los Angeles-born actress Odessa A’Zion, 25, has withdrawn from an upcoming A24 film, Deep Cuts, following a backlash over casting choices that fans deemed a case of “whitewashing.”
Casting Controversy Erupts Over Role in ‘Deep Cuts’
The Marty Supreme star stepped down after criticism arose regarding her portrayal of a character originally written as half-Mexican and half-Jewish.
- A’Zion announced her departure on Instagram, aligning herself with fan concerns.
- The character, Zoe Gutierrez, was envisioned as half-Mexican, half-Jewish in the source novel.
- Fans pointed to other actresses of Mexican descent who could have filled the role.
- Filming was slated to begin next month, but is now in question.
“Guys!! I am with ALL of you, and I am NOT doing this movie,” A’Zion wrote in an Instagram post to her more than two million followers. “F**k that. I’m out.” The decision comes after online criticism ignited when she was cast alongside Cailee Spaeny as Percy in the film, based on Holly Brickley’s 2025 novel.
What exactly sparked the controversy? Fans argued that casting A’Zion, who has Jewish heritage but is not of Mexican descent, erased representation for Latina actresses. Social media quickly became a forum for expressing disappointment and calling for more inclusive casting practices.
“Melissa Barrera and Eiza Gonzalez are two actresses who were both born and raised in Mexico,” one user wrote on X. “Both have name recognition in their respective genres and both could’ve used the opportunity to play a MEXICAN woman in this film over white girl Odessa A’Zion.”
The sentiment was echoed by others, with one X user stating, “I can tell you right now there are thousands of beautiful, talented and passionate Mexican actors out there waiting for their big break… to see a white woman steal that opportunity in the current political climate is not only disgusting but also disheartening.”
Even a fan page dedicated to A’Zion voiced its disapproval, pausing activity on X and stating, “We’re here to state that we do not agree with this casting, especially given the current political state of the US. As two latina admins, we will be pausing this account’s activity until further notice.”
A’Zion explained on Instagram that she initially accepted the role of Zoe without fully understanding the character’s background. “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???” she wrote. She emphasized her commitment to not taking opportunities away from those for whom the role was intended.
“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.”
Directed by Sean Durkin, Deep Cuts is a 2000s-set love story that explores the complexities of ambition, belonging, and adulthood. The film was previously set to star Austin Butler and Saoirse Ronan, who later departed due to scheduling conflicts. Filming was expected to begin next month.
