Fox’s “Glee” routinely incorporates diversity in its plotlines, but advocates for disabled Hollywood actors still wish the show had chosen one of their own to play the paraplegic Artie, the Associated Press reports
Wednesday’s episode featured a joyful wheelchair routine by the glee club members, in solidarity with fellow performer Artie, who uses a wheelchair.
The role is played by a non-disabled actor and that has some in Hollywood upset.
"I think there’s a fear of litigation, that a person with disabilities might slow a production down, fear that viewers might be uncomfortable," said Robert David Hall, who chairs a multi-union committee for performers with disabilities.
–Elizabeth Jensen
No one mentioned the girl w/ down syndrome. I’m sure she wasn’t “acting”.
Viewers of “Friday Night Lights” will recall the actor who played the disabled friend of the spine-injured quarterback is the same one who now plays an apparently able EMT on “Trauma” — I don’t recall hearing any backlash on that one. With due respect to the disabled community, acting ability ought to be considered at least as highly as the level of actual, real-life disability.
Artie is played by McHale because they had plans for him to dance in a future dream sequence.
Good post, thanks
Great post!