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Whoopi Goldberg criticized backlash over Elliot Page’s casting in The Odyssey
“Why go see the movie? If you don’t want to see it, then don’t go see it,” Goldberg said
Page, who came out as trans in 2020, has been candid about how transitioning has positively impacted his acting career
Whoopi Goldberg is calling out transphobic critics of Elliot Page.
On Tuesday, July 21, The Viewco-host slammed critics of Page’s casting in The Odyssey as Greek warrior Sinon. While the actor’s skeptics are “losing their minds” over his portrayal in the film, Goldberg reminded them that no one is forcing them to watch the movie.
“I don’t understand. Why go see the movie? If you don’t want to see it, then don’t go see it,” Goldberg said. “Why do you care who’s cast in it?”
Whoopi Goldberg gesturing while speaking on a setCredit: ABC
“I don’t understand this idea that if we hate it, everybody must hate it because we hate it for this reason,” Goldberg continued. “You don’t like Elliot Page? Don’t go see the damn movie. Don’t do it. We will be okay if you don’t go see it.”
Goldberg’s comments come after an onslaught of discourse on X about Page’s casting, including after prominent conservative podcaster Ben Shapiro said it was “stupid to cast Elliot Page as a dude.”
Page, who came out as trans in 2020, has previously been candid about how his transition has not only benefited his personal journey as a queer individual, but also positively impacted his experience acting.
The View co-host Sarah Haines added that much of the criticism surrounding Page’s casting comes from online users who have professed that they haven’t or won’t see the film.
“There’s a unique ignorance to someone who comments on something they’ve never seen. You’re taught from a young age: do your research, learn and then you can join the conversation,” Haines said. She added, “You cannot not see the film and complain about how awful it is when you haven’t seen the film.”
Elliot Page in ‘The Odyssey’Credit: Universal
The Odyssey, Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s classic epic poem, recently debuted in theaters on July 17. The tale, which follows Odysseus (Matt Damon) on his quest home from the Trojan War back to his home in Ithaca, also stars Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson, Mia Goth, John Leguizamo and Lupita Nyong’o — the last of whom was also the subject of conservative backlash, as critics shamed Nolan for casting a Black woman as Helen of Troy and her twin sister, Clytemnestra.
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The epic drama earned more than $264 million at the box office in its first weekend, with $124.5 million earned domestically and $139.6 million internationally.
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