Richard Shotwell/Invision/APJared Leto's portrayal of Rayon, an HIV-positive transgender woman in Dallas Buyers Club, has been an awards season favorite and he is expected to walk away with the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. But one woman made it very clear that she doesn't believe the 42-year-old actor deserves the accolades and recognition.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Leto was heckled by an unidentified attendee at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's Virtuosos Award tribute on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Leto, along with Fruitvale Station's Michael B. Jordan, Short Term 12's Brie Larson and Nebraska's June Squibb were also honored at the event for giving breakthrough performances in 2013.
"Trans-misogyny does not deserve an award," the audience member told the Critics' Choice, Golden Globe and SAG Award winner.
"What do you mean by that?" the 30 Seconds to Mars rocker responded.
"You don't deserve an award for portraying a trans-woman, because you're a man," the woman continued.
"Because I'm a man, I don't deserve to play that part?" Leto replied. "So you would hold a role against someone who happened to be gay or lesbian—they can't play a straight part?"
The woman continued to engage Leto and argued that most straight actors win awards for portraying transgender characters.
"Then you've made sure people that are gay, people that aren't straight, people like the Rayons of the world would never have the opportunity to turn the tables and explore parts of that art," Leto countered, as the audience cheered.
Following the event, Leto had a "cordial conversation" with the heckler and her friend for about 15 minutes.