Wicked star Marissa Bode is asking out some “very gross,” “dangerous” and “aggressive” feedback she’s heard about Nessarose’s incapacity for the reason that Jon M. Chu musical film adaptation hit theaters on Nov. 22.
The actress took to TikTook on Friday to share a five-minute video (under), sharing her ideas on the “uncomfortable” issues which have been circulating on-line in regards to the character. As an individual with disabilities who has a platform, she desires to make use of it to carry consideration to what she has learn.
“It is totally OK to not like a fictional character,” she mentioned. “I’m going to be admitting my bias in the way in which that I’ve loads of totally different emotions on Nessa than loads of you do, and that’s completely positive. I feel Nessa is complicated, however that’s the fantastic thing about artwork. Wicked and these characters and the film wouldn’t be what it was if there weren’t totally different opinions on the characters and who’s really depraved or not.”
She famous that she is a “deeply” unserious particular person, who loves jokes which are foolish, goofy and innocent. So jokes about Nessa’s actions or persona are positive as a result of she’s fictional. However, jokes about her incapacity are “deeply uncomfortable.”
“Disability isn’t fictional,” Bode continued. “At the top of the day, me, Marissa, is the individual that remains to be disabled and in a wheelchair. So, it’s merely a low-hanging fruit that too lots of you’re snug taking.”
Numerous the feedback, the actress defined, are coming from non-disabled strangers with a punchline revolving round not having the ability to stroll, giving a way of laughing at somebody and never laughing with them. But probably the most irritating factor for Bode, she mentioned, is that she feels scared to speak or publish about issues like this.
“This goes thus far past me, Marissa, simply needing to disregard feedback on the web,” she said. “These feedback don’t exist in a vacuum. Aggressive feedback of eager to trigger hurt and push Nessa out of her wheelchair, or that she deserves her incapacity, are two very gross and dangerous feedback that actual disabled folks, together with myself, have heard earlier than.”
The actress admitted that she’s additionally scared as a result of she has seen firsthand what has occurred to her friends who’re disabled and have known as out ableism however are instructed to “simply take a joke” or “cease complaining.” They have needed to take steps again from content material creation for his or her psychological well-being, which isn’t OK, she mentioned.
Bode inspired folks to cease dismissing one another once they don’t assume an expertise will be true as a result of they haven’t gone via it themselves. She acknowledged that, fortunately, she’s at a spot in her life the place she acknowledges that jokes about incapacity “are made out of ignorance.”
“It would have affected youthful me much more, and I’m anxious {that a} youthful model of myself is someplace on the web and is harmed by these feedback,” she continued. “I do know and have seen, not on this particular occasion, however comparable feedback be made on my disabled friends and disabled creators’ movies to the purpose the place, once more, it runs them off the web. That’s not good. Please be sort.”
Bode concluded, “Lastly, I need to say one of many main themes inside Wicked is being able to pay attention and to know each other. And I actually hope that’s one thing loads of you’ll be able to follow extra and take with you.”
Since hitting theaters, half one of many big-screen remake of the musical has damaged a number of information, together with the largest field workplace opening for a Broadway musical adaptation. Wicked: Part Two is about to be launched on Nov. 21, 2025.
