Yikes. People are not happy about Benedict Cumberbatch’s ‘Zoolander 2’ character

When it was revealed that Benedict Cumberbatch will be making a cameo appearance in Zoolander 2, lots of people (myself included!) celebrated. I mean, the thought of Benedict Cumberbatch in a comedy with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson? Could it possibly get better?

However, the answer to that question for many is “yes,” because Cumberbatch’s role in the film is causing quite the stir. An online petition started by Sarah Rose is calling for a boycott of the film because his character, named All, is an “offensive representation of non-binary individuals.”

Writes Sarah Rose:

So far, the petition has received over 6,000 signatures with a goal of 7,000. “Like any rational person, I think there’s a place for discourse and humor in society, but the last thing the transgender community needs at this moment is another harmful, cartoonish portrayal of our lives,” writes Rose.

So far, Paramount Pictures has not commented on the controversy. In the past year, Cumberbatch has come under fire for using the antiquated phrase “colored people,” and he quickly apologized, saying that he was “devastated to have caused offense” and for the public to “please be assured I have [learned from my mistakes].”

Zoolander 2 hits theaters on February 12, 2016. You can watch the full trailer and see the character “All” here.

(Image via Paramount Pictures.)