Odessa A’zion exits A24 film after backlash to her being cast as character with Mexican heritage

Actor Odessa A’zion revealed that she would be pulling out of A24’s film adaptation of the novel “Deep Cuts,” clearing the air on Instagram stories after internet backlash over her casting.

A’zion was cast as Zoe Gutierrez, a character from the 2025 novel by Holly Brickley of the same name, who is Mexican and Jewish. Her casting sparked outrage online as people contested the portrayal of the character by a woman who is not Latina and questioned why an actor of Mexican heritage wasn’t put in the role.

The actor, who rose to fame through breakout roles in “Marty Supreme” alongside Timothée Chalamet and the HBO series “I Love LA,” posted on Instagram that she “hadn’t read the book and should have paid more attention to all aspects of Zoe before accepting.”

“F— that! IM OUT,” A’zion wrote on Instagram.

A’zion said she had auditioned for another role in the film, Percy, and was offered the role of Zoe instead. “I’d never take a role from someone else that’s meant to do it. That SHOULD do it! That’s not me,” A’zion wrote.

The other lead roles will be played by Cailee Spaeny, as Percy, and Drew Starkey, in the role of Joe.

“Still haven’t read the book but the story in the script focused on Percy and Joe, so of course on my initial read that was my main focus as well. I was happy to be involved as a different role, but I just can not do it knowing more about Zoe now,” A’zion wrote.

A’zion did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News.