Jared Leto was heckled at the Santa Barbara Film Festival on Tuesday while accepting the Santa Barbara Film Festival's Virtuosos Awards for his role in the Dallas Buyers Club.
The Huffington Post reports that after Leto received his award and returned to his seat, a woman shouted out to the actor, saying that he did not deserve the award for his transgender role.
"You don't deserve an award. Trans misogyny does not deserve an award!", the audience member, who witnesses say appear to be a transgender woman, said. "You're a man. You shouldn't play a transgendered role!"
Leto then responded to the woman, asking why it is not okay for actors who aren't straight to push the limits and try other roles.
"Then you've made sure people that are gay, people that aren't straight, people like the Rayons of the world would never have the opportunity to turn the tables and explore parts of that art," Leto said.
Leto then invited the heckler backstage to chat. Witnesses say the conversation went well.
Leto plays Rayon, a transsexual with the AIDS virus, in the Dallas Buyers Club.
TheLos Angeles Times reports that Leto received numerous awards for his role, including a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Leto is currently nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 2, on ABC.
Image: NBC