Director David Ayer responded to backlash over the alleged ‘brownface’ casting of Daytime Emmy winner Shia LaBeouf as a ‘Cholo’ gangster in his upcoming movie, The Tax Collector.
‘Shia is playing a whiteboy who grew up in the hood,’ the 52-year-old filmmaker – who boasts 479K Twitter/Instagram followers – explained.
‘This is a [half-Jewish, half-Cajun] dude playing a white character. Also the only white dude in the movie.’
Hitting VOD on August 7! Director David Ayer (L) responded to backlash over the alleged ‘brownface’ casting of Daytime Emmy winner Shia LaBeouf (R) as a ‘Cholo’ gangster in his upcoming movie, The Tax Collector
![The 52-year-old filmmaker explained: 'Shia is playing a whiteboy who grew up in the hood. This is a [half-Jewish, half-Cajun] dude playing a white character. Also the only white dude in the movie'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/07/06/00/30425682-8492625-image-a-23_1593992329958.jpg)
The 52-year-old filmmaker explained: ‘Shia is playing a whiteboy who grew up in the hood. This is a [half-Jewish, half-Cajun] dude playing a white character. Also the only white dude in the movie’
The 34-year-old Echo Park native wore a three-piece suit in the trailer depicting his character as a ‘terrorizing devil’ collecting ‘taxes’ for a crime lord called Wizard.
Ayer spent all Wednesday evening defending casting a white man at the center of yet another movie reinforcing stereotypes about Latinx and African-Americans in gangs.
‘Yes. [Creeper] grew up in the hood. He’s a gangster. He’s a Cholo. He’s a Southsider. Shia studied a real homie like that to get it correct,’ David continued.
‘I grew up hood and I’m a whiteboy. Chicano culture is inclusive – I’ve seen whiteys, Asians, Blacks, Filipinos all putting in work for the hood. It’s part of street culture.’
Unconvincing: The 34-year-old Echo Park native wore a three-piece suit in the trailer depicting his character as a ‘terrorizing devil’ collecting ‘taxes’ for a crime lord called Wizard
‘He’s a Cholo!’ Ayer spent all Wednesday evening defending casting a white man at the center of yet another movie reinforcing stereotypes about Latinx and African-Americans in gangs
Turns out Shia ‘got his whole chest tattooed’ to more authentically portray the chain-smoking culture vulture.
‘He’s one of the best actors I’ve worked with, and he’s the most committed to body and soul,’ the Suicide Squad helmer told Slash Film in January.
‘On Tax Collector, he got his whole chest tattooed. So he kind of goes all in, and I’ve never known anyone that committed.’
LaBeouf previously ‘had a tooth pulled’ the first time he worked with Ayer and Oscar winner Brad Pitt in the 2014 WWII flick, Fury.
‘Shia studied a real homie like that to get it correct’: Turns out Shia ‘got his whole chest tattooed’ to more authentically portray the chain-smoking culture vulture
‘He’s one of the best actors I’ve worked with’: LaBeouf (R) previously ‘had a tooth pulled’ the first time he worked with Ayer (L) and Oscar winner Brad Pitt (M) in the 2014 WWII flick, Fury
‘Can’t wait for y’all to meet Lupe!’ Also coming to the former child star’s defense was his castmate Chelsea Rendon, who played Lupe in The Tax Collector (posted July 1)
The 27-year-old Montebello native tweeted: ‘Y’all. Shia is NOT playing a Latinx character. So chill. That is all’
Also coming to the former child star’s defense was his castmate Chelsea Rendon, who played Lupe in The Tax Collector.
‘Y’all. Shia is NOT playing a Latinx character. So chill. That is all,’ the 27-year-old Montebello native tweeted last Wednesday.
‘You don’t act/dress the same as who you grew up with? In the same neighborhood? I’m not saying some Malibu’s most wanted s*** but the real s***.
‘I got friends that aren’t Latinx I grew up with who speak Spanish or have the same accent as mine and s*** is that not okay?’
Legitimized: The Honey Boy actor-writer’s latest controversy came less than a month after the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced he’d be inducted into the Walk of Fame in 2021
Definitely no actress: It’s worth noting that most actors wouldn’t have a career at all if they were LaBeouf – whose sixth arrest was in 2017 for obstruction, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness (pictured in 2017)
The East LA-set, indie crime flick – hitting VOD on August 7 – also features three-time Grammy nominee George Lopez, Bobby Soto, and Cinthya Carmona.
The Honey Boy actor-writer’s latest controversy came less than a month after the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced he’d be inducted into the Walk of Fame next year.
It’s worth noting that most actors wouldn’t have a career at all if they were LaBeouf – whose sixth arrest was in 2017 for obstruction, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness.