Shia LaBeouf's New Movie Is Being Called Out For 'Brownfacing' And The Director Has Responded

After the trailer for Shia LaBeouf's new movie, The Tax Collector, was released on Friday, people started claiming that the film features 'brownfacing':

Viewers were also concerned about Shia - who plays a character called Creeper - seeming to imitate a Mexican accent.

Claiming that the film features 'brownface' one person took to Twitter writing: "Shia LaBeouf - only white boy in cast of brown/black people bc they couldn't find one more qualified brown or black actor in Hollywood? But his #BrownFace is okay because he got full chest tattoo & a tooth pulled for the role to be more like one of them. How f**king insulting."

Another added: "Wouldn't the director (who also wrote the film) be "at fault here"..." Funny someone would bring him up because the director of the film, David Ayer, has addressed his decision to cast LeBeouf in the role of a Latino character.

Ayer - who wrote Training Day and The Fast and the Furious, has responded saying: "Shia is playing a whiteboy who grew up in the hood. This is a Jewish dude playing a white character. Also the only white dude in the movie."

Cross Creek Pictures/RLJE Films

Replying to another tweet, he clarified, "It ain't a cop movie. And Shia is playing something very specific. Not brown face."

And to someone else he wrote: "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."

The Tax Collector which will be released on 7 August follows two tax collectors - played by Bobby Soto and LaBeouf - working for a crime lord called Wizard. They collect his cut from the profits of local gangs' illicit dealings.

LaBeouf, 34, got his torso tattooed to help him get into character for a role and, speaking about his dedication, David Ayer told slashfilm.com: "He's one of the best actors I've worked with, and he's the most committed to body and soul. He had a tooth pulled on Fury, and then on Tax Collector, he got his whole chest tattooed. So he kind of goes all in, and I've never known anyone that committed."

Topics: Entertainment, TV and Film, Shia LaBeouf

Rebecca Shepherd

I'm Becky - a journalist at LADbible. I graduated with a First Class BA in Journalism before going on to cover criminal court cases, medical tribunals and breaking news for the national media - which inevitably and eventually became as glum as it sounds. Can often be found rocking a bag for life - which I made a 'thing' way before Rihanna. You can contact me at [email protected]

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