Marissa Bode is responding to the disparaging remarks made on her character in Wicked.
Bode, who plays Cynthia Erivo’s role Nessarose, Elphaba’s younger sister, uploaded a five-minute video to her TikTokslamming the barrage of criticism she has been receiving since the film’s Nov. 22 debut.
Bode said she was a little uneasy about some of the reactions, even though she enjoyed witnessing the outpouring of affection for the film.
Bode, who uses a wheelchair both on-screen and in real life, admitted in the video that she has prejudices about her own role. Since Nessarose is a fictional character, she claimed it was completely acceptable to make jokes about her behavior or personality.
However, Bode clarified that she did not approve of hostile remarks and jokes regarding Nessa’s condition, describing the messages as extremely upsetting because disability is real.
She stated that I, Marissa, am the one who is still in a wheelchair and incapacitated at the end of the day. Thus, it’s just a low-hanging fruit that far too many of you feel free to take.
She went on to say that she has heard ableist comments about herself in addition to her persona. Just like Marissa, not Nessa, I had heard remarks like “stand up for yourself,” “I guess you can’t stand him,” and similar ones before I was ever cast in Wicked.
She went on to say that it really feels more like laughing at than laughing with when non-disabled strangers make jokes about not being able to walk.
Bode claimed that being afraid to express her opinions was the most upsetting aspect of acknowledging such remarks.
She asserted that these remarks are not isolated. Real disabled people like me have heard extremely offensive and damaging remarks like “I want to hurt Nessa and push her out of her wheelchair” and “She deserves her disability.”
The performer said she has witnessed the consequences her classmates have faced when they have spoken out against ableism.
She clarified that the comments left by these disabled creators are overflowing with ableist remarks. Some of my disabled peers have had to take a sabbatical from online life for their own mental health because they are advised to stop complaining and to simply take it easy when they are talking about ableism.
Bode then urged everyone listening to pay attention to the people or the person it is affecting and how it makes them feel, rather than discounting the feelings of others.
Fortunately, I’ve reached a point in my life where I see that these comments about people with disabilities are ignorant, she added. Ten years ago, I couldn’t have said the same about Marissa, and it would have had a far greater impact on a younger me. I’m concerned that these remarks could hurt a younger me that might be online.
“Lastly, I want to say 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,” she said, wrapping up her message with a lesson she learnt from the film.
Bode debuted in a feature picture, which was directed by John M. Chu. The Wisconsin-born actress studied acting at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles after performing in plays during her middle and high school years.
She was an after-school art instructor and mentor before being cast in the role of Nessarose. She told TODAY.com that she felt extremely fortunate and honored to be cast in Wicked just a year after graduating from college. (NBCUniversal, the parent company of TODAY.com, owns Universal Pictures.)
Even if you’re not given much representation and don’t see yourself, you still have—or at least I did have—some idea of what you’re capable of. I’m aware of my ability to act. She clarified, “I know other disabled talent that can act and model.” However, what percentage of the industry is prepared to pursue it, find disabled people, and listen to them? That was the only thing I undoubtedly ran into.
Bode, who is the first performer with a physical disability to play Nessarose, expressed her happiness at the casting choice.
She clarified, Growing up, I didn’t see it very often, and when I did, it was only for a single special episode and the character was never shown again.
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