Ariela Barer is giving Odessa A’zion a shoutout after she was cast in Sean Durkin’s Deep Cuts.
The recasting followed controversy around whitewashing the fictional character from Holly Brickley’s debut novel, in which the role of Zoe Gutierrez is described as half Mexican and half Jewish.
After Deadline broke the news that Barer, who is Mexican American and Jewish, would take on the role of Zoe, A’zion gave her a shoutout.
“That’s what I’m talkin’ about, baby,” the I Love LA star posted on Instagram along with a screenshot of the story. “Always stand up for what I KNOW is right. I stand by my decision and am so so so so so happy this is the outcome. C’mon baby!! She’s gonna eat it up.”
In a post on her Instagram, Barer also praised A’zion for stepping down from the role following the controversy. “And a genuine major shoutout to [Odessa A’zion] for always leading with integrity and being an absolute real one for as long as I’ve known her.”
Barer said she was “excited to be a part of this special project with such special people.”
Instagram exchange between Odessa A’zion and Ariel Barer
Instagram / arielbarer / odessaazion
After it was announced that A’zion was cast in Deep Cuts in the role of Zoe, backlash ensued claiming producers were whitewashing the character. More than 100 Latino artists in Hollywood also signed an open letter asking for more authenticity in casting.
Amid the backlash, A’zion stepped down from the role in the A24 role, saying she wasn’t aware of the character’s background.
“Guys!! I am with ALL of you and I am NOT doing this movie,” A’zion posted on Instagram in late January.
In another post, A’zion explained she had originally tested or Percy “but was offered Zoe instead and instantly said yes,” adding, “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???”
A’zion explained she would “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.”
Deep Cuts is a love story about two music-obsessed twentysomethings with Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey in the lead roles.
Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein, and Josh Safdie are producing alongside Durkin, Anthony Katagas, Jordan Tappis, and A24. Brickley serves as an executive producer.