'Tropic' demonstrators chant 'Ban the movie! Ban the word!'
At last night's "Tropic Thunder" premiere, demonstrators from several groups, including the American Assn. of People with Disabilities and led by Special Olympics chairman Tim Shriver, chanted, "Ban the movie, ban the word!"
The protesters were representatives from advocacy groups for the disabled that called for a national boycott of Stiller's film, citing a negative portrayal of people with, as Shriver said, "intellectual disabilities."
The protesters also handed out fliers urging people to boycott "Tropic Thunder" and carried posters with slogans that read "R-word = hate speech." (The word the groups have taken exception to is "retard.")
The demonstration did not affect the red-carpet arrivals of the film's stars and guests -- including Amy Adams, Jodie Foster, Alicia Silverstone, Tobey Maguire, Rashida Jones, Nigel Lythgoe of "American Idol" fame, and Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes -- because there were 10-foot-tall green fences erected around the carpet, blocking the view of the protesters.
"We felt that the use of the word 'retard' throughout the film, 15 or more times, is done without any regard for the dignity of people with intellectual disabilities. The caricatures of people with intellectual disabilities are almost hateful, and we want this to be the beginning of the end. We want this to be the end of Hollywood treating this population as the butt of jokes," Shriver said. Interestingly, he is Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's brother-in-law.
Was the audience at the screening offended by the movie's use of the word?
"The film pokes fun at everyone and everything," one journalist said. "But it did feel like people weren't laughing quite as loudly at the retard jokes. And there were a lot of them."
Maybe that was due to nervousness about the outside protest. Or was it because there was a disabled man in a wheelchair at the back of the theater?
Did he laugh?
"No," the observer said. "But the poor guy was hooked up to breathing tubes and didn't move at all or smile during the whole film."
Additonal reporting: Joel Stratte-McClure
Photos: Jack Black, Tom Cruise, Matthew McConaughey, Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr., pal around on the red carpet, top. Tom and Katie show their support for the film that's getting Cruise great reviews.
WireImage
Post a comment
- Most Liked
- Most Commented
I am soooo tired of having to be politically correct on everything that is said. People need to lighten up and realize that there are more serious matters in the world!!!
Another example of the politically correct mob, who decides for the rest of us what or who we may insult or ridicule. These PC kooks are more dangerous that any terrorist...the last time I looked this was still the USA...where no one is immune from ridicule. These nutcases have a right to be heard...but not to ban or prohibit anything as long it is not illegal. Please PC kooks...get a life!
Why did the article author think a person in a wheelchair had a mental disability? What a retard.
Picogirl, I am soooo tired of having to listen to slurs in everything that is said. People need to lighten up and stop complaining about not using derogatory terms. There are more serious matters in the world!!!
"Intellectual Disabilities" is just the currently fashionable politically correct term to replace the equally apropos "Mental Retardation", describing quite accurately an aberration in the neurophysiological growth of an individual's brain. To call truth a perjorative is to miss the point - People that would look down upon an intellectually disabled person look down upon them no matter the name applied to describe that person. The hate is in the speaker, not the word spoken. "Retard" in this context is no more inherently perjorative than "People with Intellectual Disabilities". Honestly in my own experience, the word "Retard" is used much more often as a label for someone who is fully functional from a neurophysiological standpoint, but is acting in a way that is perceived as idiotic.
In the end, words are tools. Trying to crack down on a word you don't like is like trying to crack down on hammers because you could hit yourself in the thumbnail with them. That's just retarded.
Oh, I have GOT to see this movie now! I wouldn't have given it a second glance had it not been for your headlines.
Picogirl -
It's different when you're 1) targeting a group of people that can't readily defend themselves and 2) contributing to an ongoing problem culturally where an entire group of people are being demeaned consistently.
Something tells me that if a Ben Stiller movie were to target Muslims or Blacks with hateful terms...etc... there'd be uproar.
This is an easy group to target. Someone's gotta stand up for them. And as the 22-year year old brother of an amazing guy with Down Syndrome - I'm on board to boycott and spread the word.
This whole thing is retarded. And it makes me want to see Tropic Thunder even more!
I have to say that I am more intrigued to see the movie now more than ever. Since I have heard that a politically correct group wants it banned. If they are sooo against it, they don't have to watch it. Protests only make people want to see things more.
I think everybody needs to stop taking things so seriously... I have a sister who became retarded when she was 23 after being hit by a drunk driver... I still us the word and don't get offended hearing anybody else use it. Like somebody stated before, there are way to many things in this world that people should be focusing on besides being P.C.... all the protestors should get a life and put their time and effort into something that can actually help this world.