Guy Pearce issued an apology on Tuesday after he tweeted a question about transgender actors that sparked backlash.

In a since-deleted tweet, the actor asked, "A question — if the only people allowed to play trans characters are trans folk, then are we also suggesting the only people trans folk can play are trans characters? Surely that will limit your career as an actor? Isn't the point of an actor to be able play anyone outside your own world?"