"Zoolander 2" co-writer Justin Theroux is upset over the criticisms made against the model comedy film, and cannot understand why some people are already petitioning to boycott the movie when they do not even know what it's about.
During an interview with The Wrap, Theroux confronted the controversial "Zoolander 2" clip showing a Benedict Cumberbatch lookalike named "All," who is an androgynous model. Dissenters took offense when Zoolander and Hansel debated whether All is a "male or female model," and if the character has "a hot dog or a bun."
In the petition, which has obtained over 20,000 signatures already, angry viewers cried foul because "Cumberbatch's character is clearly portrayed as an over-the-top, cartoonish mockery of androgyne/trans/non-binary individuals. This is the modern equivalent of using blackface to represent a minority."
"If the producers and screenwriters of 'Zoolander' wanted to provide social commentary on the presence of trans/androgyne individuals in the fashion industry, they could have approached models like Andreja Pejic to be in the film," they noted.
The same group added that the "film endorses harmful and dangerous perceptions of the queer community at large."
However, Theroux wanted to clarify that his intent was only to make people laugh, and not to sow confusion and offend anyone.
"I don't even know what to make of it, because it hurts my feelings in a way. I take great care in the jokes I write, and the umbrage being taken is out of the context of the scene. I wish people would see the movie first. Satire is a thing that points out the idiots, and we went through it on 'Tropic Thunder' with the 'R' word," he said.
Some people also made complaints against his earlier film "Tropic Thunder" since Robert Downey Jr.'s character used the word "retard."
Once again, Theroux defended his film: "The goal was not to mock or be cruel to the mentally challenged, but exalt in the stupidity of people who use that word. I'm all for letting words be ugly when the target is correct."
Theroux added: "With social media and all the rest of it, people's issues need to be heard... at the end of the day people are looking for bandwidth. People are looking for places to inject their voice. But our target is not, and never was, to disenfranchise anyone."
"Zoolander 2," which stars Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, and Penelope Cruz will be released on February 12, 2016.
