Yahoo News Wicked's Marissa Bode criticises jokes about Nessarose's disability
Wicked star Marissa Bode has criticised those who have joked about the disability of her character, Nessarose.
The musical-fantasy film follows Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda Upland (Ariana Grande) as they meet at Shiz University, beginning a journey that will change the very fabric of Oz.
Bode, who became the first wheelchair user to play the role of Elphaba’s younger sister, took to TikTok on Friday to criticise many of the remarks that have been made in regards to Nessarose, explaining that disability should never be ridiculed.
Related: Wicked's Jonathan Bailey says "there is a reason" for Fiyero's blue eyes
“At the end of the day, me, Marissa, is the person that is still disabled and in a wheelchair. And so it is simply a low-hanging fruit that too many of you are comfortable taking,” said Bode, who added that the “aggressive” comments were “very gross and harmful”.
Bode continued by exploring the themes of the film, noting: “One of the major themes within Wicked is having the ability to listen and to understand one another. And I truly hope that is something a lot of you can practice more and take with you.”
In the caption, Bode remarked that “representation was important” before imploring “non-disabled people” to “do the work” and “dissect and unlearn” their own ableism, concluding that “true progress never comes with comfort.”
Wicked will be followed by a second part to complete the story, which is due to be released next year. With the journey being split in two, there have been some changes – and expansions – from the iconic stage show, with director John M Chu explaining the decisions.
Related: Best film and TV tours for 2024
“The alternative was not possible, to be honest,” he said. “We tried to make it into one movie, and you had to rip out songs and it became not Wicked… [You can] get away with things on stage that you can't get away with in a movie.
“We questioned ourselves at every turn. We did not make decisions lightly. We actually could make decisions and go backwards. We tried all versions, always.”
Wicked is in cinemas now.
You Might Also Like
