Justin Theroux has said his feelings were hurt by a petition calling for a boycott of Zoolander 2. The 44-year-old, who co-wrote the movie, responded to controversy surrounding Benedict Cumberbatch's character – a gender ambiguous model called All.
When the trailer for the hotly anticipated movie was released in November some fans suggested it was transphobic, with over 21,000 people signing up to boycott the film. However Justin has insisted the clip was taken out of context in the trailer.
© Photo: Getty ImagesJustin Theroux said his feelings were hurt by a petition to boycott Zoolander 2
"I don't even know what to make of it, because it hurts my feelings in a way," Justin told The Wrap. "I take great care in the jokes I write, and the umbrage being taken is out of the context of the scene. I wish people would see the movie first."
He also referenced the criticism he received after the release of his film Tropic Thunder for the repeated use of the word 'retard', explaining: "Satire is a thing that points out the idiots, and we went through it on Tropic Thunder with the R-word.
"The goal was not to mock or be cruel to the mentally challenged, but exalt in the stupidity of people who use that word. I'm all for letting words be ugly when the target is correct."
Benedict Cumberbatch's character All has caused controversy
Zoolander 2 is set for release in February 2016, some 15 years after the original film was released. Other stars joining Benedict to make cameos in the film include Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus and Lenny Kravitz, who all play stars that become victims of an assassin who is systematically killing off the world's most beautiful people.
The long-awaited sequel was announced in March when actors Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson walked down the runway in character at the Valentino show during Paris Fashion Week. The duo strutted their stuff to rapturous applause and captured the attention of US Vogue editor Anna Wintour.
