Ariela Barer joins 'Deep Cuts' after Odessa A'zion casting controversy
- - Ariela Barer joins 'Deep Cuts' after Odessa A'zion casting controversy
Brendan Morrow, USA TODAYFebruary 11, 2026 at 7:47 PM
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Ariela Barer joins 'Deep Cuts' after Odessa A'zion casting controversy
The movie "Deep Cuts" has lined up a replacement for Odessa A'zion after the star dropped out of the project amid backlash to her casting.
"Runaways" and "The Last of Us" actress Ariela Barer has joined the cast of the upcoming Sean Durkin movie, taking over the role of Zoe Gutierrez that A'zion was previously set to play. Barer confirmed the news on Instagram while giving a "genuine major shoutout" to A'zion "for always leading with integrity and being an absolute real one for as long as I've known her."
A'zion was originally cast as the character, who is described as being Jewish and having Mexican heritage in the Holly Brickley book that the movie is based on. But some fans objected to the choice of A'zion for the role given she is not Mexican. "We do not agree with the decision to cast a white, non-Mexican actress as a character who was originally written as a Mexican woman of color," a fan account devoted to A'zion previously wrote on X.
Ariela Barer attends the "See You When I See You" premiere during the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 27, 2026 in Park City, Utah.
Barer, who is Mexican American and Jewish and told Just Jared in 2021 that she "used to self identify as a Mexi-jew," previously starred in the Marvel series "Runaways" and recently played Mel in Season 2 of HBO's "The Last of Us." She also led the 2023 thriller "How to Blow Up a Pipeline," which she cowrote.
"Deep Cuts" is described as a love story set in the 2000s "about two music-obsessed twenty-somethings navigating the messy realities of ambition, belonging and adulthood over the course of an era-defining decade."
Odessa A'zion quits 'Deep Cuts' movie over whitewashing controversy
A'zion praised the casting of Barer on her Instagram story.
Odessa A'zion attends the Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 11, 2026.
Odessa A'zion just wants to be 'messy' in 'Marty Supreme,' 'I Love LA'
"Always stand up for what I KNOW is right," she wrote. "I stand by my decision and am so so so so so happy this is the outcome. C'mon baby!! She's gonna eat it up."
A'zion, who is coming off a breakout role in "Marty Supreme," was originally reported to be starring in "Deep Cuts" on Jan. 26. But she confirmed she had exited the role just days later, saying in a series of Instagram posts that she did not read the book the movie is based on and was unaware the character is Mexican.
2026 Grammy Awards, where Bad Bunny had a big night with an album of the year win for "Debí Tirar Más Fotos."Meanwhile, Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are continuing to step out on red carpets for "Wuthering Heights." February will also see the return of New York Fashion Week, plus the premieres of highly anticipated movies like "Scream 7" and TV shows like ABC's reboot of "Scrubs."Scroll through for the best celebrity photos of February 2026 so far, starting with Bad Bunny attending the Grammys on Feb. 1 in Los Angeles.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Music's biggest stars are kicking off February on a high note with the 2026 Grammy Awards, where Bad Bunny had a big night with an album of the year win for "Debí Tirar Más Fotos."Meanwhile, Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are continuing to step out on red carpets for "Wuthering Heights." February will also see the return of New York Fashion Week, plus the premieres of highly anticipated movies like "Scream 7" and TV shows like ABC's reboot of "Scrubs."Scroll through for the best celebrity photos of February 2026 so far, starting with Bad Bunny attending the Grammys on Feb. 1 in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/BLM1Qp61KhcdXuDMlmm8xQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05MDA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a922eeb707f1ba56ee8166516c3c7b87 class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
Music's biggest stars are kicking off February on a high note with the 2026 Grammy Awards, where Bad Bunny had a big night with an album of the year win for "Debí Tirar Más Fotos."Meanwhile, Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are continuing to step out on red carpets for "Wuthering Heights." February will also see the return of New York Fashion Week, plus the premieres of highly anticipated movies like "Scream 7" and TV shows like ABC's reboot of "Scrubs."Scroll through for the best celebrity photos of February 2026 so far, starting with Bad Bunny attending the Grammys on Feb. 1 in Los Angeles.
">Music's biggest stars are kicking off February on a high note with the 2026 Grammy Awards, where Bad Bunny had a big night with an album of the year win for "Debí Tirar Más Fotos."Meanwhile, Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are continuing to step out on red carpets for "Wuthering Heights." February will also see the return of New York Fashion Week, plus the premieres of highly anticipated movies like "Scream 7" and TV shows like ABC's reboot of "Scrubs."Scroll through for the best celebrity photos of February 2026 so far, starting with Bad Bunny attending the Grammys on Feb. 1 in Los Angeles.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/BLM1Qp61KhcdXuDMlmm8xQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05MDA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a922eeb707f1ba56ee8166516c3c7b87 class=caas-img>Margot Robbie attends a photocall for "Wuthering Heights" in Paris on Feb. 2.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/LZTaiYkx1QO13ZEa.Mnxng--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/9ef5b51f309eda6845300f38b6690cc1 class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
Margot Robbie attends a photocall for "Wuthering Heights" in Paris on Feb. 2.
">Margot Robbie attends a photocall for "Wuthering Heights" in Paris on Feb. 2.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/LZTaiYkx1QO13ZEa.Mnxng--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/9ef5b51f309eda6845300f38b6690cc1 class=caas-img>Jacob Elordi
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Qv6kiEr49zDYsofZak3Phg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/4ee3730f770f2de8d57a52a950724c4b class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
Jacob Elordi
">Jacob Elordi
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Qv6kiEr49zDYsofZak3Phg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/4ee3730f770f2de8d57a52a950724c4b class=caas-img>From left, Jacob Elordi, Emerald Fennell, Margot Robbie and Shazad Latif
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/H_mKlQ1NtQKeMQAZlQXDOQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/4d17b5fe6993b9ca302eb13e9dfa1d73 class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
From left, Jacob Elordi, Emerald Fennell, Margot Robbie and Shazad Latif
">From left, Jacob Elordi, Emerald Fennell, Margot Robbie and Shazad Latif
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/H_mKlQ1NtQKeMQAZlQXDOQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/4d17b5fe6993b9ca302eb13e9dfa1d73 class=caas-img>Sabrina Carpenter performs during the Grammys on Feb. 1 in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/fFEOd1mhgf8K5axd_jv_lA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/609e7dc0ee0ee59343063fccec83978a class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
Sabrina Carpenter performs during the Grammys on Feb. 1 in Los Angeles.
">Sabrina Carpenter performs during the Grammys on Feb. 1 in Los Angeles.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/fFEOd1mhgf8K5axd_jv_lA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/609e7dc0ee0ee59343063fccec83978a class=caas-img>Lady Gaga
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/7ItDO_mr3h6DTu_hrDiEng--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5a4279afb6b87987b953defca6dbb550 class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
Lady Gaga
">Lady Gaga
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/7ItDO_mr3h6DTu_hrDiEng--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5a4279afb6b87987b953defca6dbb550 class=caas-img>Billie Eilish, left, and Finneas O'Connell
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/b6mGO_kaog3k9RCtLOu0TQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/613068a38ceaf25d07e2d03a08e1081c class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
Billie Eilish, left, and Finneas O'Connell
">Billie Eilish, left, and Finneas O'Connell
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/b6mGO_kaog3k9RCtLOu0TQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/613068a38ceaf25d07e2d03a08e1081c class=caas-img>Chappell Roan
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/9K_VMUV3fsLIvm2muBvIZw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYz/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/bddcfa6976af28b844242d053259c118 class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
Chappell Roan
">Chappell Roan
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/9K_VMUV3fsLIvm2muBvIZw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYz/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/bddcfa6976af28b844242d053259c118 class=caas-img>Doechii
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/1IZVxj4sjvFOrWzfyh6YoQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04OTU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/fe89763134bf663f11923152b26edb8e class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
Doechii
">Doechii
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/1IZVxj4sjvFOrWzfyh6YoQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04OTU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/fe89763134bf663f11923152b26edb8e class=caas-img>Justin Bieber
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/6B.DaHIk2nQouphk8fohUA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NTQ-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/43276fb99cb447c16c088502b8dd391e class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
Justin Bieber
">Justin Bieber
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/6B.DaHIk2nQouphk8fohUA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NTQ-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/43276fb99cb447c16c088502b8dd391e class=caas-img>Olivia Dean
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/79saa7.Q2rhkuN6LuMC9bA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05MDY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/55e5086649b8fd9e403a6973c675e897 class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
Olivia Dean
">Olivia Dean
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/79saa7.Q2rhkuN6LuMC9bA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05MDY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/55e5086649b8fd9e403a6973c675e897 class=caas-img>Trevor Noah, left, and Gayle King
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/vGIkwOtYHwpdjnvnJ3qzOw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05NDQ-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/4d11ee92e28e93a0c9be70c6d069fea3 class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
Trevor Noah, left, and Gayle King
">Trevor Noah, left, and Gayle King
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/vGIkwOtYHwpdjnvnJ3qzOw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05NDQ-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/4d11ee92e28e93a0c9be70c6d069fea3 class=caas-img>Addison Rae
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/AWC5zIDqADTSGI2PiXE_tA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODY0/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a5de74b7f9ccd57771f3ec3b9d79ea53 class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
Addison Rae
">Addison Rae
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/AWC5zIDqADTSGI2PiXE_tA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODY0/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a5de74b7f9ccd57771f3ec3b9d79ea53 class=caas-img>Harry Styles
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/k63jjvYIvt1OltlODJjw2Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05MTY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/7ea74fb61c50d68f563c8d39bb2e7313 class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
Harry Styles
">Harry Styles
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/k63jjvYIvt1OltlODJjw2Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05MTY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/7ea74fb61c50d68f563c8d39bb2e7313 class=caas-img>Jelly Roll
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/TXNrhT8w6LOelVdwltXvqw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04ODc-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/f1f26c96770dc033756546d45d2f8531 class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
Jelly Roll
">Jelly Roll
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/TXNrhT8w6LOelVdwltXvqw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04ODc-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/f1f26c96770dc033756546d45d2f8531 class=caas-img>Miley Cyrus
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/aduAM4_VrlFalJuBwIggJA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/0ab0260a1c5004414e844130b2a96d70 class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
Miley Cyrus
">Miley Cyrus
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/aduAM4_VrlFalJuBwIggJA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/0ab0260a1c5004414e844130b2a96d70 class=caas-img>Tate Mcrae
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/lboC2PZsTHEOoy2GsCBuFw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/031626eea1ee771bb69ba41a5ad61cce class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
Tate Mcrae
">Tate Mcrae
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/lboC2PZsTHEOoy2GsCBuFw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/031626eea1ee771bb69ba41a5ad61cce class=caas-img>Rex Linn, left, and Reba McEntire
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/l1GgaSc9.aHAJQXBTsSeZg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYz/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/47ddde3c1a7c67c2c283cd53255f98db class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
Rex Linn, left, and Reba McEntire
">Rex Linn, left, and Reba McEntire
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/l1GgaSc9.aHAJQXBTsSeZg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYz/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/47ddde3c1a7c67c2c283cd53255f98db class=caas-img>Charli XCX attends the W Magazine, Charli XCX, and Saint Laurent Grammy after party at Bar Marmont on Feb. 1 in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ZN6pZcuB4iga2NfsMoG22w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYz/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e79ecede428a8311c49838e753fd7506 class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
Charli XCX attends the W Magazine, Charli XCX, and Saint Laurent Grammy after party at Bar Marmont on Feb. 1 in Los Angeles.
">Charli XCX attends the W Magazine, Charli XCX, and Saint Laurent Grammy after party at Bar Marmont on Feb. 1 in Los Angeles.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ZN6pZcuB4iga2NfsMoG22w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYz/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e79ecede428a8311c49838e753fd7506 class=caas-img>Paris Hilton
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/NKtJze7eTDFlSaxxHEIqIA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5d456f5d3c360dd7850bc517101267e3 class=caas-img data-headline="See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February" data-caption="
Paris Hilton
">Paris Hilton
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/NKtJze7eTDFlSaxxHEIqIA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5d456f5d3c360dd7850bc517101267e3 class=caas-img>
1 / 20See Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga in the best celebrity photos of February
Music's biggest stars are kicking off February on a high note with the 2026 Grammy Awards, where Bad Bunny had a big night with an album of the year win for "Debí Tirar Más Fotos."Meanwhile, Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are continuing to step out on red carpets for "Wuthering Heights." February will also see the return of New York Fashion Week, plus the premieres of highly anticipated movies like "Scream 7" and TV shows like ABC's reboot of "Scrubs."Scroll through for the best celebrity photos of February 2026 so far, starting with Bad Bunny attending the Grammys on Feb. 1 in Los Angeles.
"I'm so so sorry that this happened," she wrote in an Instagram story. "It is SO important for me to let you in on how it all went down: I went in for Percy, but was offered Zoe instead and instantly said yes! I'm so pissed y'all, I hadn't read the book and should have paid more attention to all aspects of Zoe before accepting."
She added, "I'd never take a role from someone else that's meant to do it. That SHOULD do it! That's not me. There are a plentitude of people more than capable of playing this role and I am NOT one of them. I can't wait to see who it ends up being."
Cailee Spaeny and Drew Starkey are set to star in "Deep Cuts," which will feature original music by Blake Mills and be produced by "Marty Supreme" director Josh Safdie.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Odessa A'zion recast in 'Deep Cuts' after whitewashing controversy
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
