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    Laverne Cox Quits Sex Industry Documentary Amid Backlash

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    WENN

    The ‘Orange Is the New Black’ star announces she has decided to pull out of the upcoming documentary about sex workers after the production comes under fire.

    Jan 10, 2021
    AceShowbiz – Laverne Cox has pulled out of a film about sex workers following a backlash.
    The “Orange Is the New Black” star had been due to executive produce “Sell/Buy/Date” – a documentary based on Sarah Jones’ one-woman show – alongside Meryl Streep and Rashida Jones. However, the production has faced criticism for potentially contributing to the stigma around sex work.
    Tagging Laverne in a post, one Twitter user wrote, “Just what the world needs. Another movie where non SWers debate whether sex work is exploitative or empowering.”
    “This project is everything you’re supposedly against. Stop trying to tell sw stories by ignoring and doxxing them. (sic)”
    Another added, “As a sex worker– I get being misrepresented. I mean — people in Hollywood are still doing SWer documentaries without talking to actual sexworkers. (sic)”
    In response, Laverne explained she was pulling out of the project because she didn’t feel she is in an “emotional place” to deal with any of the outrage.
    In a statement, she shared, “When I agreed to come on as an executive producer of Sell, Buy Date I did so because I was so deeply moved by Sarah Jones’ brilliant play and her unbelievable, undeniable talent as an artist, as an actor. I signed on to support her incredible talent.”
    “I have so much love for her as a human being. But I am not in an emotional place to deal with the outrage by some around my participation in this project. So I have decided to pull out.”

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    “To be clear, I am no longer involved in any capacity in Sell. Buy, Date because I have to take care of my mental, physical and emotional health. That is all I have to say on the matter. (sic)”
    The 48-year-old star went on to post an old video in which she discussed the need to decriminalise sex work.
    Director-and-actress Sarah – who played multiple characters inspired by real people in her 2016 sex industry play – later wished Laverne well and thanked her for her support so far.
    She tweeted, “I’m so grateful to you Laverne for coming on the journey with me thus far, and I’m looking forward to continuing my work on the film, and only ask that everyone give Laverne her space while keeping an open mind about the project before judging it.”
    The documentary will reportedly focus on inequality of race, sexism and poverty, as well as in criminal justice, through the lens of the debate surrounding the sex industry and will explore whether sex work is exploitative or empowering.
    Sarah has defended the documentary and urged people not to write off the project before seeing it.
    She wrote, “As a Black feminist artist, I have always centered the stories of traditionally marginalised people, especially women and femmes struggling for liberation and self-determination. My sisters in the sex industry are no exception.”
    “I am committed to deep listening to folks with lived experience, not only in my interviews but also in those we hire behind the scenes.”

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      Laverne Cox Exits Sex Industry Doc Following 'Outrage' for the Sake of Her 'Mental Health'

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      As one of the executive producers alongside Meryl Streep and Rashida Jones, the ‘Orange Is the New Black’ alum is under fire for supporting Sarah Jones’ project that would examine the sex industry.

      Jan 8, 2021
      AceShowbiz – Laverne Cox has parted ways with Sarah Jones (II) in making a documentary about sex workers. The actress has decided to pull out from “Sell/Buy/Date”, in which she was originally set to serve as executive producer alongside Meryl Streep and Rashida Jones, following a string of criticism from the sex industry workers.
      “Just what the world needs,” one person sarcastically wrote on Twitter. “Another movie where non SWers debate whether sex work is exploitative or empowering.” Tagging @Lavernecox, the critic added, “this project is everything you’re supposedly against. Stop trying to tell sw stories by ignoring and doxxing them.”
      Another voiced disapproval of the project, “As a sex worker– I get being misrepresented. I mean– people in Hollywood are still doing SWer documentaries without talking to actual sexworkers.”
      Noticing the negative feedback, Laverne took to Twitter to announce her withdrawal from the documentary. “When I agreed to come on as an executive producer of ‘Sell, Buy Date’ I did so because I was so deeply moved by Sarah Jones’ brilliant play and her unbelievable, undeniable talent as an artist, as an actor. I signed on to support her incredible talent,” she began her statement.
      She explained her decision to exit the project, “I have so much love for her as a human being. But I am not in an emotional place to deal with the outrage by some around my participation in this project. So I have decided to pull out.”
      “To be clear I am no longer involved in any capacity in ‘Sell. Buy, Date.’,” she stressed, citing her mental health as her priority, “I have to take care of my mental, physical and emotional health, This is all I have to say on the matter.”

      Laverne Cox announced her exit from ‘Sell/Buy/Date’.

        See also…

      Respecting Cox’s decision, Jones responded to the “TRANSform Me” co-host’s announcement. “I’m so grateful to you Laverne for coming on the journey with me thus far, and I’m looking forward to continuing my work on the film,” she wrote back to the actress, before asking “that everyone give Laverne her space while keeping an open mind about the project before judging it.”

      Sarah Jones responded to Cox’s tweet.
      Jones herself has addressed people’s concern about misinterpretation of sex workers in her upcoming movie. “As a Black feminist artist, I have always centered the stories of traditionally marginalized people, especially women and femmes struggling for liberation and self-determination. My sisters in the sex industry are no exception,” she said in her own statement. “I am committed to deep listening to folks with lived experience, not only in my interviews but also in those we hire behind the scenes.”

      She added in a statement to THR, “As I do with all my work, I’m approaching this documentary with compassion and in an attempt to understand the nuance and complexity of how sex work affects everybody, especially women of color. For too long, BIPOC women have had our narratives controlled by others. Thanks to this new moment, I have the opportunity to finally share mine.”
      She went on assuring, “I am committed to making this an inclusive, respectful documentary about my personal experience as a Black woman, informed by various voices of people with lived experience around this topic. As a feminist who cares deeply about the wellbeing and freedom of ALL people, I am looking forward to sharing my story in the creative way I know how. I hope those who have never lived in my shoes allow me the chance to express my own experience as a Black woman.”
      “Sell/Buy/Date” is billed as a documentary that will tackle the themes of “inequality (criminal justice, race, sexism, poverty) through the lens of the debate around the sex industry. The documentary asks the question, ‘Is sex work exploitative or empowering?’ ”

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