Laura Jane Grace Continues Criticism of Arcade Fire's 'We Exist' Music Video

The war of words and political correctness regarding transgender issues continues between Arcade Fire, The Advocate magazine and Against Me! singer Laura Jane Grace. Grace, a transgender woman, has criticized Arcade Fire's latest music video for "We Exist," which features The Amazing Spider-Man 2 actor Andrew Garfield playing a trans* woman in a small, repressive town before she finds herself in full acceptance at Arcade Fire's Coachella gig.

Grace initially criticized Arcade Fire and Win Butler for not casting an actual transgender woman, which the band defended in The Advocate, saying "For a gay kid in Jamaica to see the actor who played Spider-Man in that role is pretty damn powerful, in my opinion." But, that imagery isn't powerful enough for Grace, who has taken to her Twitter once again to criticize the music video, Garfield and director David Wilson.

"This article is hella problematic. To start with there's the fact that Win says 'he' and Wilson says 'she'... the implication that a homeless Jamacian LGBT youth living in a sewer is going to feel empowered because a cis, straight white male actor in movies they can't afford to see stars in a music video they'll never watch? That's so like wtf?" she wrote in a series of tweets.

But, then, Grace explained her issue with "We Exist" wasn't even Garfield, it was the clip's entire concept.

"My main problem with the video isn't even casting it's stereotyping... like why does Garfield cry about shaving their head to then put on a wig when they have gorgeous hair? Why does Garfield go to the shittiest bar ever to drink domestic beer and dance with bigot rednecks? And the idea that the band playing Coachella is their Mecca of acceptance and validation. Phfff. As if. If the song was called anything else I wouldn't even have a problem with it. It's called 'We Exist' and there is literally no signs of that existence represented. Should have been called 'The Exist.'"

Grace seems to be coming from a pure place of heart, saying she's a fan of Arcade Fire and that the band's album The Suburbs is "perfect."

Arcade Fire has yet to respond to the latest criticisms of "We Exist" and its music video.

Tags

Arcade Fire, Laura Jane Grace, Against Me!