The complicated argument between Tilda Swinton and Margaret Cho explained.

After the events of the past few days, it’s fair to say there is no love lost between actress Tilda Swinton and comedian Margaret Cho.

The two celebrities have very publicly clashed horns over the whitewashing of Hollywood, specifically Swinton’s new film Doctor Strange. The English actress plays ‘The Ancient One’ – a character who in the Marvel comic books (on which the movie is based) is actually an older Tibetan man.

Unimpressed with the casting decision, Margaret Cho has vocally called out Swinton on a recent podcast, and revealed a private conversation they had on the topic. Since then, things have taken a nasty turn.

So, for anyone else who’s scratching their head at how this all began, here’s a play-by-play on the situation.

#DrStrange characters introduced in new featurette ! #doctorstrangemovie #drstrangemovie #DoctorStrange

A photo posted by Doctor Strange Movie (@drstrangeofficial) on Oct 16, 2016 at 3:38am PDT

The Dr Strange controversy comes off the back of a long history of whitewashing in Hollywood.

While it’s been a well-argued topic for decades now, Hollywood’s obsession with ‘whitewashing’ roles continues.

In recent years, there has been some seriously questionable casting of white actors in roles for people of colour, including: Angelina Jolie in A Mighty Heart, Justin Chatwin in Dragonball: Evolution, Matt Damon in The Great Wall, and Emma Stone in Aloha.

In these instances it’s not unusual for white actors or actresses to alter their appearances to resemble another nationality. Many consider it to be a modern take on blackface, and it’s widely looked down upon.

So as soon as the public found out that Tilda Swinton was cast as The Ancient One in Dr Strange, the sparks started flying.

The director said he didn't think he was 'whitewashing' the role.

The director of Dr Strange, Scott Derrickson, felt that by casting Swinton he was actually challenging the diversity in Hollywood, not working against it.

“Diversity in movies is absolutely the responsibility of producers and directors. In this movie, we have about as diverse a cast as I think you can get, and that was a very conscious decision,” he said in an interview with Los Angeles Daily News.

"Tilda was a way of adding diversity in terms of not just an ethereal, enigmatic, otherworldly actress playing an ethereal, enigmatic, otherworldly character, but we’re bringing a middle-aged woman who’s not 28 years old in leather pants into the Marvel Universe in a major role.”

In learning about the controversy over her casting, Tilda Swinton decided to reach out to Margaret Cho.

A self confessed 'extinct beast' who isn't across social media, Swinton contacted Korean/ American comedian Margaret Cho, who has been a long-standing advocate for diversity in Hollywood.

In a friendly introduction, the 56-year-old called herself a fan of Cho and asked to have a conversation about the topic so that she could listen and learn.

"I am frankly much more interested in listening than saying anything much," she wrote.

"I would really love to hear your thoughts and have a - private - conversation about it. Are you up for this? Can we e-mail?"

Cho agreed, and the two began a lengthy email exchange.

According to Vanity Fair, the conversation actually went pretty well.

"Cho replied by noting that she’s a fan of Swinton’s," they reported, "then gave her thoughts about the controversy, as well as whitewashing in Hollywood in general. She also adds that the two can keep the conversation private."

As they chatted, Cho stated that she did believe Swinton was committed to promoting diversity in Hollywood, but suggested Swinton can work harder to produce and support projects by Asian American artists.

"We can totally email and we can be private!" she added.

Swinton pointed out that she had produced a Korean film, OKJA - the first half English/ half Korean film in history.

"The project I have been developing as a producer over the past two years is with Bong Joon Ho - my colleague from SNOWPIERCER," Swinton wrote.

"A film called OKJA shooting this summer in Korea, NYC and Vancouver - to my knowledge the first ever half Korean/half English speaking film...fingers crossed it will be a big deal and help the landscape somewhat.. I hope and believe it will."

Cho responded enthusiastically, and that was that. Conversation over.

Then Cho raised the topic of their conversation on a podcast, painting it in a very different light.

Despite assuring Swinton their chat would be kept private, Cho decided to discuss it on a podcast called TigerBelly, hosted by actor Bobby Lee.

The topic of the podcast was the lack of roles for Asian actors in Hollywood, and Cho pointed out that many roles go to white actors - like Swinton.

In recalling the conversation, she said she felt like a 'house Asian', being spoken down to and sworn to secrecy.

"Tilda eventually emailed me and she said that she didn't understand why people were so mad about Doctor Strange and she wanted to talk about it, and wanted to get my take on why all the Asian people were mad," said Cho. "It was so weird."

She also claimed it seemed like a pitch for Cho to defend Swinton to the Asian community over the casting.

“Like, I don’t have a yellow phone under a cake dome,” she joked with host Lee on the show.

According to Cho, the conversation eventually became a “fight about why the part should not have gone to her. That’s what I thought.”

Following her confession, fans were quick to jump to Cho's defence, calling out Swinton for pushing Cho to endorse her role.

So Swinton decided to set the record straight, and release the full emails.

When Jezebel reached out to Swinton's rep Brian Swardstrom for a comment, the actress went one further and sent the full, unedited transcript of the emails. You read them in full, here.

"Since you asked for a response to a story you published today about the substance and tone of a correspondence between Margaret Cho and Tilda Swinton," wrote Swardstrom, "Tilda offers you the entire unedited and only conversation she has ever had with Margaret - with her gratitude for the opportunity to clarify and with all good wishes to all."

Mic drop.

The emails have been picked up and republished hundreds of times, but jury's out on who is in the wrong.

It's a spiky topic, to say the very least; and many people seem reluctant to give their opinion.

It's undeniable that the tone of the emails from Swinton to Cho came from a place of genuine concern - yet others would argue it was just a front to win over Cho's support.

And yet, Cho's congenial tone in the email exchange doesn't seem to match up with her assessment of it on the podcast.

"I am not sure what to say other than I am glad you want to meet the issue head on - it's a tough one I know," wrote Cho to Swinton. "I think that talking about the issue frankly - as you have done with me is the right way to go."

And yet, this was the very act that was apparently 'so weird' to Cho, and prompted her to take a private conversation public.

No further comment has been offered from either Cho or Swinton's camps.

So we can only assume that they've both taken on the mantra, 'silence is golden.' Stay tuned.