Odessa A’zion Exits ‘Deep Cuts’ Role Following Backlash Over Latina Casting
Actress Odessa A’zion has officially stepped down from her role in the upcoming A24 film adaptation of Deep Cuts following significant online criticism regarding her casting as a Latina character. The 25-year-old actress announced her departure on social media, stating she was unaware of the character’s specific ethnic background when she accepted the part.
A’zion took to Instagram Stories to address the controversy directly, writing, “Guys!! I am with ALL of you and I am NOT doing this movie. I’m OUT.” She explained that she had initially auditioned for a different role—Percy—but was subsequently offered the lead role of Zoe Gutierrez. A’zion admitted she had not read the source material, a 2025 novel by Holly Brickley, before accepting the offer and was therefore unaware that Zoe is explicitly written as a half-Mexican, half-Jewish lesbian.
“I went in for Percy, but was offered Zoe instead and instantly said yes,” A’zion wrote. “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??? I’d never take a role from someone else that’s meant to do it.”
The casting decision sparked a wave of “whitewashing” accusations across social media platforms. Critics argued that casting A’zion, who is Jewish but not of Mexican descent, contributed to the erasure of Latina representation in Hollywood. Several fan accounts dedicated to the actress announced they were pausing their activity in protest, stating that the casting choice perpetuated harmful industry patterns. Some users also criticized the actress’s recent appearance, accusing her of adopting a “racially ambiguous” aesthetic through tanning and hair styling, which they felt facilitated the casting misalignment.
The conversation was further amplified when actress Melissa Barrera posted a message about the importance of representation and the scarcity of roles for Latino actors. While Barrera did not name A’zion or the project directly, many interpreted her comments as a response to the Deep Cuts casting news.
Deep Cuts, directed by Sean Durkin, is set in the 2000s and follows two music-obsessed young adults navigating the indie music scenes of Brooklyn and San Francisco. The film is set to star Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey. A’zion, the daughter of Better Things creator Pamela Adlon, has previously gained recognition for her roles in the Netflix series Grand Army and the 2022 reboot of Hellraiser. A’zion concluded her statement by expressing support for a more appropriate casting choice, writing, “There are a plentitude of people more capable of playing this role and I am NOT one of them.”
latimes.com
people.com
vulture.com
worldofreel.com
evrimagaci.org
reddit.com
reddit.com
