‘Scary Movie’ actor Benny Zielke says film created a “safe space” for trans people
Benny Zielke Defends ‘Scary Movie’ Pronoun Jokes (Image: Brianna Bryson/Getty Images)
Trans ‘Scary Movie’ actor Benny Zielke has shared how he initially had reservations about being cast in the parody film, but quickly realised that it had created “a safe space” for the trans community.
Many LGBTQ+ social media users rolled their eyes at ‘Scary Movie’ featuring a ‘they/them’ pronoun joke in the first trailer for the film. But Zielke insists that it has taken a refreshing approach to the subject matter.
“Honestly, I had the same kind of fear when I got the full script, and I was reading it,” he told Out in a 10 June interview. “I was like, ‘Is it going to be OK?’ But truthfully, truthfully, I do not think that they are punching down. I don’t think that they’re going for marginalized communities and trying to make fun of them.”
He went on to say that, instead, the film is “pushing boundaries”. “They’re making crazy, raunchy jokes, but I don’t think there is a mean spirit behind it at all,” he continued.
“So, if you’re a trans person and you’re like, ‘I want to see this, but I don’t want another triggering piece of media,’ I really think this is a safe space for that, even though it’s not a safe space.”
In the film, Zielke plays Jess, the trans son of the town’s sheriff (Lochlyn Munro). Much of the comedy surrounding the two characters involves the sheriff accepting his son because he wants to be inclusive.
Zielke also told Out that the jokes are all aimed at those who have problems with the trans community, as opposed to trans people themselves.
“Every time I have gotten to play a trans character before now, it has been in a really heavy, tragic piece or a really stressful, anxious piece,” Zielke said.
“So, to get to be a part of this project where trans people are never the butt of the joke – like we’re getting to make the joke, and the people misgendering us and being confused, blundering around, they’re the butt of the joke – has been really nice.”
That switch-up partly comes from the fact that the film was co-written by ‘Scary Movie’ mainstay Marlon Wayans, who has a trans son himself.
“That’s me and Kai,” Wayans told USA Today on 4 June of the storyline between Jess and his father.
“I wanted to be inclusive, and also from a father’s point of view dealing with their child in a transitional state, but accepting… and finding the humor,” he said. “You send it up and you humanize it. Instead of just making fun of things, you actually come from a different perspective.”
The film previously faced controversy over a non-binary joke in the trailer, with audiences having mixed responses to this.
