Laverne Cox Drops Out of Controversial New Film

Laverne Cox is exiting a controversial project about sex work.

The Emmy-nominated actress was attached to co-executive produce Sarah Jones‘s upcoming documentary Sell/Buy/Date alongside fellow stars Meryl Streep and Rashida Jones.

A press release published by The Hollywood Reporter says the film addresses whether sex work is exploitative or empowering, as well as the sex industry’s impact on “Black and brown women in particular.”

Members of the sex work community criticized the film for not directly involving sex workers in the production process. Laverne responded to one user’s comment that the project represented “everything [she is] supposedly against” by announcing that she had decided to exit the film in order to protect her mental health amid the backlash.

“I am not in an emotional place to deal with the outrage by some around my participation in this project,” she tweeted. “So I have decided to pull out. To be clear, I am no longer involved in any capacity in ['Sell/Buy/Date.']”

In November, Laverne opened up about being the target of a transphobic attack – read more here.