Non-binary model Jamie Windust has alleged that the crew of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald are homophobic.
Windust who is a non-binary model and writer was cast as an extra in the movie and revealed on Twitter that it was “one of the worst jobs” they have ever done, claiming there was “misogyny, homophobia and transphobia” on set.
Jamie said they wrote about their experience to “highlight the trans and non-binary experience in situations where our safety and sense of happiness isn’t the main priority”. “I’m calling out this for the lack of trans and non-binary support and acknowledgement, not the conditions we worked in,” they clarified. “I knew that was going to happen. I want more trans NB people behind the camera.”
They continued: “Not only were the staff literally all white, but it was a diverse cast of extras that were definitely not all cis, but despite this, for the whole duration of the filming process we were cast and sectioned into ‘male and female’ groups.”
During the long days as an extra, Jamie said they overheard “disgusting” comments aimed at women and anti-LGBT+ slurs towards other visibly queer extras on set and they quit because of this.
“Sometimes championed and goaded by members of staff eg) oggling women, discussing having sex with other cast members, but also the homophobia towards other extras all went unchallenged and allowed to happen.”
In a conversation with Out Magazine, Jamie explained that the language used on set was “alarming” and said the crew requested extras who were “supernatural, weird looking and androgynous”.
“I think because I was so new to the industry, and because I had just started, I didn’t want to look like I was ungrateful,” they added.
Jamie was signed to an agency at the time who cast them in this role and has since joined an agency who cater specifically to non-binary performers in London.
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