Oh, the internet never fails to deliver its daily dose of manufactured drama. This time, it’s actress Odessa A’zion who’s decided to bail on her role in the upcoming A24 film adaptation of Deep Cuts. Why? Because she was cast as a Mexican Jewess, and apparently, that’s a crime against humanity according to the Twitterati who think only a “real” Latina should play the part. But hold on to your sombreros and kippahs, folks – this whole kerfuffle is about as logical as a vegan bacon festival.For those who missed the memo, A’zion announced her exit a mere 2 days after after landing the role, amid backlash claiming she doesn’t have the right “Mexican heritage” for the role.
This X user with only 411 followers managed to generate over 153,000 views in two days from her post implying that Odessa’s casting was classic “whitewashing.” I’d embed the post but as I was writing this, her account was totally locked down.
This X account (which I hope will last longer), dedicated to posting updates about Odessa (over 4,500 followers), announced that it was pausing updates until they get an explanation for why Odessa accepted the role.
We had initially chosen to wait for an official statement. However, as neither Odessa nor her team has addressed the matter, we feel it’s important to clarify our position.
We do not agree with the decision to cast a white, non-Mexican actress as a character who was originally…
— Odessa A'zion Updates (@OdessaAzionUPD) January 28, 2026
Wait, what? Since when did playing a character require a DNA test and a family tree audit? Last I checked, acting is about, you know, acting – pretending to be someone you’re not. But no, the outrage machine cranked up, and poor Odessa folded faster than a bad poker hand. It’s almost comical how she surrendered to the fake outrage of these online mobs, who probably think that in Mexico, people speak Mexican. Let’s inject some actual facts into this farce, shall we? The history of Jews in Mexico isn’t some ancient Aztec secret; it’s a story of immigration waves that make the whole “but she’s not Latina enough” argument look totally idiotic. Sure, there were a few Crypto-Jews sneaking in during the Spanish colonial era, but the vast majority of Mexican Jews showed up way after Mexico gained independence, and ditched the Inquisition in 1821.
Back then, Jews weren’t even allowed citizenship, and by 1867, there were only about 20 Jewish families kicking around the country. Things didn’t really pick up until after 1880, when Ashkenazi Jews from Russia fled the pogroms following the assassination of Czar Alexander II. Then came the Sephardic wave from the crumbling Ottoman Empire, including folks from Syria and beyond. By 1900, a census tallied just 134 Jews in Mexico. Fast forward to today, and there are around 90,000 Mexican Jews in a population of 133 million – a vibrant community that’s as Mexican as tacos al pastor, but with a side of gefilte fish.
So, tell me again why Odessa A’zion – who, by the way, is actually Jewish herself – couldn’t pull off this role? The complainers seem to forget that Mexican Jews are, well, Jewish first in terms of heritage, with their families hailing from Europe and the Middle East, not some pre-Columbian lineage. Insisting on a “Latina” actress ignores the Jewish essence of the character, unless they’re planning to cast someone who can juggle matzah balls while speaking flawless Yiddish-inflected Spanish.
Odessa, honey, what were you thinking? Did you have deep conversations with your I Love LA co-star Rachel Sennott about how she promoted “Jewish erasure” when she played a Jewish woman in Shiva Baby despite being Catholic? Bowing to this nonsense just empowers the idiots who turn every casting decision into a battlefield for their fragile egos. It’s fake outrage at its finest – probably drummed up by people who learned about cultural appropriation from TikTok memes. Grow a spine, Hollywood; acting isn’t about checking boxes, it’s about telling stories. In the end, this whole mess highlights how the intersectional outrage brigade loves to divide and conquer, even when there’s no real victim. Mexican Jews exist, they’ve got a rich history, and Odessa could’ve rocked that role. Too bad she let the mob win.
Better luck next time Odessa! Just remember, the haters are going to hate you no matter what. Despite identifying yourself as “not a Zionist” in the infamous IDF t-shirt debacle a mere month ago, you continue to be the target of Antisemitic attention online by mere virtue of being identified as a Jew. It took me three seconds to find people on Instagram calling you things like “nepo Zionist” and other stuff I won’t repeat. Failed actor Jacob Berger follows you not because of your nuanced takes on Middle East politics and identity. He follows you because he likes your rack, and he has a thing for racks.
Sigh. The Internet is bananas.
