Rebel Wilson slams decision to cancel ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ with Hugh Sheridan

Rebel Wilson has slammed the decision to cancel an upcoming musical purely because Hugh Sheridan was cast in the lead role.

Rebel Wilson has weighed into the casting drama surrounding the musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

Rebel’s friend Hugh Sheridan was cast in the lead role of Hedwig Robinson, with the show set to begin in Sydney in January. But the musical was scrapped after transgender activists criticised the casting.

In an open letter, the Queer Artist Alliance Australia said it was “offensive” that Hugh had been cast as the lead instead of a transgender person.

Hugh Sheridan made up as Hedwig.

Hugh Sheridan. Picture: Christian Gilles

“The choice to cast a cisgender male as a transgender character is offensive and damaging to the trans community, and continues to cause genuine stress and frustration amongst trans and gender nonconforming performers all across Australia,” the group wrote.

“It is unquestionable Hugh is a talented and deserving actor,” the group wrote, however, “it is not appropriate for a cis actor to be the gatekeeper of a trans story.”

Taking to her Instagram story, Rebel criticised the decision to abandon the show and said Hugh was the perfect person to lead the production.

“As someone who has met the extraordinary and talented John Cameron Mitchell, seen Neil Patrick Harris play the role brilliantly on Broadway and knows how amazing Hugh Sheridan is as a performer – any producers would be crazy NOT to put on Hedwig in Australia with Hugh in it!” she wrote. “He’s literally perfect for the role.”

Earlier this year, Hugh revealed that he was a member of the LGBT community. He said he had relationships with both men and women.

RELATED: Rebel opens up about 300-calorie-a-day diet before weight loss

BFF’s Hugh and Rebel.

Originally published as Rebel Wilson slams decision to cancel ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ with Hugh Sheridan