The actor and comedian is reportedly playing the gay brother of Emily Blunt’s character in Disney film Jungle Cruise

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A row has broken out on social media after reports that Jack Whitehall will play the first major openly gay character in a Disney film.

Whitehall announced on Instagram that he was working on Jungle Cruise, a film based on the Disney theme park ride of the same name, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. Whitehall is to play the brother of Blunt’s character, and according to a report in the Sun, “he is playing a gay man – one who is hugely effete, very camp and very funny”.

Sophie WilkINson (@sophwilkinson) If Scarlett Johansson wasn’t allowed to play a trans man then Jack Whitehall shouldn’t be allowed to play a gay man. Especially so when you consider there are absolute hundreds of out gay men in Hollywood who are better actors than him

With many social media users referencing the recent controversy that resulted in Scarlett Johansson withdrawing from a role as a trans man in Rub & Tug, much of the protest centred around the handing of a pioneering role to a non-gay actor. Another point of contention was the suggestion that Whitehall would play a “camp” and “effete” character.

Omar Sharif Jr. (@OmarSharifJr) Really @Disney #JungleCruise ? Your first significant gay role will be played by a straight white man perpetuating stereotypes? Fail! This ship should sink. https://t.co/npPESNZaxD

If confirmed, Whitehall’s role would not be the first gay role in a Disney film – 2017’s Beauty and the Beast contained “an exclusively gay moment”.