“These comments aren’t original and when these jokes are being made by non-disabled strangers with a punchline of not being able to walk”
BY SARAH KENNELLY, IMAGE BY SAMI DRASIN FOR UNIVERSAL PICTURES
Marissa Bode spoke out against the “harmful” jokes people have made about her Wicked character’s disability in a viral TikTok video that has garnered nearly four million views. The actor plays Nessarose, who is the younger sister of Cynthia Erivo’s character Elphaba, in the critically acclaimed film adaptation of Wicked. It is Marissa’s feature film debut and she is the first disabled actor to play Nessarose, a fellow wheelchair user.
Since Wicked hit theatres on 22 November, it has developed a cult following on social media where users are creating memes of the film’s scenes and press tour moments. But Bode noted that some people are using their dislike of Nessarose’s character as an excuse to make ableist jokes.
“Not liking Nessarose is okay because she is fictional. That being said, aggressive comments and jokes about [her] disability itself are deeply uncomfortable,” she said. Some of these comments have included threatening to throw her character from a cliff or parodying the fact that she uses a wheelchair.
She added: “These comments aren’t original and when these jokes are being made by non-disabled strangers with a punchline of not being able to walk. It very much feels like laughing at rather than laughing with.”
Bode has quickly risen to internet fame since her blockbuster debut. Although she has enjoyed building a strong social media presence, she revealed how “scared” she felt to speak out about ableism on her platform.
“I am scared because I have seen firsthand what has happened to my disabled peers who have spoken out online. To the point where some of my disabled peers have needed to take a break online for their own mental wellbeing,” she said.
Bode continued: “Please be kind. One of the major themes of Wicked is having the ability to listen and understand one another and I truly hope that is something a lot of you can practice more and take with you.”
You can read our interview with Marissa Bode in our Oct/Nov issue. Get yours now: divadirect.info/
DIVA magazine celebrates 30 years in print in 2024. If you like what we do, then get behind LGBTQIA media and keep us going for another generation. Your support is invaluable.
