What Annoyed the Internet Last Week?

Over the last few years, inappropriate casting has been something that people are much more conscious of. We’re much less comfortable with the idea of a straight actor playing an LGBT actor or white actors portraying non-white characters *cough* Scarlett Johansson *cough*.

Actors who are part of a minority group in some way rightfully object to roles being taken from them by people who have countless other roles available to them.

Ah the familiar story of a non disabled actor getting 2 tell story of a real disabled man.. We cant get a foot in the door 4 so called non disabled roles & we also aren't allowed to tell our own stories #depressing #disabilityasacostume #Crippingupagainhttps://t.co/BKIPRxZQ1Y

— lisa hammond (@lisahammondwhop) August 26, 2018

The latest scandal over poor casting comes as Charlie Heaton was cast to play Joseph Merrick AKA the Elephant Man.

Disability charity Scope’s head of communications Phil Talbot said: “It’s disappointing that a disabled actor has not been cast in the remake of The Elephant Man, as it’s one of the most recognisable films to portray a disabled character.”

Heaton, who plays Jonathan in Stranger Things, said he was “honoured” to take on the role.

While the role of a disabled actor can be taken by an able-bodied actor in some situations (e.g. the actor playing Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything couldn’t have motor neurone disease as the story showed Hawking before he became wheelchair bound), many roles could and should be given to disabled people.

Eddie Redmayne in Theory of Everything

A BBC spokesman said: “The Elephant Man is an iconic drama that has had an important role to play in highlighting changing attitudes to disability and we are currently in the process of casting disabled actors in a variety of key roles.”

The role of the Elephant Man has previously been undertaken by Sir John Hurt, Mark Hamill and David Bowie.