Idina Menzel criticised for joking about slitting her wrists

Idina Menzel has been criticised for making an inappropriate joke after she said some music makes her want to ‘slit her wrists’.

Menzel – who is best known for voicing Elsa in the Disney animation Frozen – made the comment as she promoted her new TV film, Beaches.

The Broadway star was asked which songs make her cry, to which she replied: “You'd think because I'm a singer I listen to a lot of music, which I do, but there's certain music that I think is so devastatingly beautiful that it's too painful to listen to sometimes.

“There's this Meshell Ndegeocello album, Bitter, that I just can't listen to.

“It's so good. It makes me just want to slit my wrists.”

Menzel was accused of showing “a lack of education” by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) California.

Jessica Cruz, executive director told the Press Association: “Self harm and suicide is a very serious situation. Some people may not realise the impact of that type of statement.

“It shows a lack of education around the pain families and individuals go through and further stigmatises mental health.

“It's joking about self harm when self harm is not a joke.”

David Bain, executive director of NAMI's Sacramento branch, said: “It's treating the issue without the true weight that suicide carries with it.

“It's not an appropriate metaphor. She needs to consider the impact of her statement.”

It is not the first time the actress has used the expression.

When speaking about her Christmas Wishes album in 2014 she said: “I suppose if Christmas makes you depressed this album might make you want to slit your wrists.”

Standard Online has contacted a representative for Menzel for comment.

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