Instagram | @halleberry

Halle Berry Speaks Out After Facing Backlash For Wanting To Play A Transgender Character

Being a productive and supportive ally to the transgender community is an ongoing learning experience for many people. Despite the best of intentions, some comments can come across as insensitive and can be harmful to members of the trans community.

So when Halle Berry told her hairstylist she'd love to play a transgender character in an upcoming movie, fans were quick to explain the error of that decision.

Halle Berry is one of most beloved, unproblematic faves! She is truly just a talented, AGELESS, angel goddess!

So that's why it was a total shock when the actress recently came under fire for a series of insensitive comments towards the transgender community.

While chatting with her hairstylist Christin Brown on Instagram Live last week, Halle told her about an upcoming role she'd love to play.

“I’m thinking of playing a character where this woman is transgender. So my hair is going to have to be — she’s a woman that transitions into a man, so my hair is going to have to be really short,” the actress remarked.

"I might do it," Halle insisted, while explaining that she was offered the part while working on her directorial debut *Bruised*.

Instagram | @halleberry

"When this was pitched to me I thought, ‘if I’m going to do another movie that’s the role that I want to play. I want to experience that world, I want to understand that world. I want to deep dive in the way that I did Bruised."

“Who this woman was is so interesting to me,” she continued. “That will probably be my next acting project.”

Instagram | @halleberry

While it's clear Halle didn't have malice intent when suggesting she'd play a transgender man, some fans really felt she crossed the line.

In response to the backlash, Halle posted an apology on her social media. "I’d like to apologize for those remarks,” she began.

Getty Images | Amy Sussman

"As a cisgender woman, I now understand that I should not have considered this role, and that the transgender community should undeniably have the opportunity to tell their own stories."

Halle's fans in the LGBTQ+ community and beyond have appreciated Halle's apology on Twitter.

"Thank you for listening. Please help teach the people who follow you understand that trans men are not women. Also, staying in the film and playing a cis woman while a trans man plays the part would be a great thing to do as an ally because your status will help boost the film," wrote one fan.

I'm glad Halle has learned from her mistakes and will be stepping down from the role.

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