MSN/The Wrap
Published on January 30, 2026
The article examines the controversy surrounding the casting of Odessa A’zion in Deep Cuts, focusing on how debates about representation selectively value some identities over others. The character A’zion was cast to play, is both Mexican and Jewish. Public criticism and an open letter from Latino creatives centered almost exclusively on Mexican identity, arguing the role should be played by a Latina actress.
What the commentary highlights is what went largely unaddressed in that debate: Zoe’s Jewish identity, and the fact that A’zion herself is Jewish. While Mexican identity was treated as essential to authentic representation, Jewish identity was effectively ignored.
This highlights a broader pattern in entertainment and progressive cultural spaces, where Mexican or Black identity is recognized and protected in casting decisions, while Jewish identity is often treated as incidental or easily erased. The result is an uneven application of representation standards that reflects a broader cultural blind spot around Jewish identity.