Mental disability groups protest 'Tropic Thunder' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ABlairican Pie · 08-14-2008, 08:27 AM

Mental disability groups protest 'Tropic Thunder'

Aug. 12, 2008, 6:31 AM EST

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- "Tropic Thunder" is pushing the envelope too far for groups representing the mentally disabled.

Dozens of people from organizations such as the Special Olympics and the American Association of People with Disabilities protested the movie-industry spoof across the street from the film's Los Angeles premiere at Mann's Bruin Theatre on Monday. The protesters held up signs with slogans such as "Call me by my name, not by my label" and chanted phrases like "Ban the movie, ban the word."

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The groups are outraged over scenes featuring the liberal usage of a disparaging term used to describe the mentally disabled. In the movie, director and co-star Ben Stiller plays a fame-hungry actor cast in a war movie who previously had a role as a mentally disabled character named Simple Jack. The DreamWorks film, which opens Wednesday, also stars Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black.

"When I heard about it, I felt really hurt inside," said Special Olympics global messenger Dustin Plunkett. "I cannot believe a writer could write something like that. It's the not the way that we want to be portrayed. We have feelings. We don't like the word ******. We are people. We're just like any other people out there. We want to be ourselves and not be discriminated against."

Andrew J. Imparato, president of the American Association of People with Disabilities, said he and other representatives from advocacy groups representing the mentally disabled met with DreamWorks co-chair Stacey Snider and watched a private screening of the film Monday morning. Imparato called the movie "tasteless" and said it was "offensive start to finish."

"I have a sense of humor," said Imparato. "There were parts of the movie where I laughed, but it seems to me that the movie tried really hard to go too far and then pull back on everything that was offensive except the issue of people with intellectual disabilities. I just think Ben Stiller and the people involved in this movie just didn't think it was going to be offensive."

Following the original complaints from the advocacy groups, DreamWorks pulled some promotional materials, including a Web site that promoted the film-within-a-film starring Stiller's character which contained the tag line "Once there was a ******." DreamWorks spokesman Chip Sullivan previously said in a statement that "no changes or cuts to the film will be made."

"If you want to pick on people, as the old playground saying goes, pick on people your own size," said Timothy Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, who is calling for a boycott of "Tropic Thunder" along with the other groups. "This population struggles too much with the basics to have to struggle against Hollywood. We're sending a message that this hate speech is no longer acceptable."

TJL · 08-14-2008, 08:41 AM

Is there a group out there that doesn't have a problem with Tropic Thunder?

Lighten up folks. It's a comedy.

Adamantium · 08-14-2008, 04:32 PM

I saw a show about the movie and they kept saying "The R-Word." Even when they showed clips of the movie, they bleeped out the word "******."

You know, I understand we shouldn't be going out and trying to hurt people's feelings, but I agree with TJL... lighten up.

On the show I saw today, the interviewer asked a woman what the the correct term is and she replied "Intellectually Challenged." See, there's a technical term for everything. Though I still don't understand why Little People prefer that over midget.

TJL · 08-14-2008, 04:47 PM

Intellectually challenged?

That's a new one.

Schmoopie · 08-16-2008, 06:49 AM

This movie looks absolutely awful and Tom Cruise has sunk to a new low in deciding to participate. I really used to admire him and loved his movies but it's been a very long time since that happened.

Aside from the disability issues (I work with people every day who have various disabilities so I would probably find the film offensive, too), I also read online that Robert Downey Jr plays a black person in this film. Hmmm....

Andrea

veggie-tari-jenn · 08-29-2008, 09:58 PM

wow i didnt know tom cruise was in this movie...that alone makes me not want to see it....he is awful..imo always has been.

i have to see the movie before i can judge it...but it sounds awful....i an a bigg ben stiller fan so i guess i will see it begrugeingly.

08-14-2008, 08:27 AM	#1
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,620	Mental disability groups protest 'Tropic Thunder' Mental disability groups protest 'Tropic Thunder' Aug. 12, 2008, 6:31 AM EST LOS ANGELES (AP) -- "Tropic Thunder" is pushing the envelope too far for groups representing the mentally disabled. Dozens of people from organizations such as the Special Olympics and the American Association of People with Disabilities protested the movie-industry spoof across the street from the film's Los Angeles premiere at Mann's Bruin Theatre on Monday. The protesters held up signs with slogans such as "Call me by my name, not by my label" and chanted phrases like "Ban the movie, ban the word." View more MSN videosGo to DreamWorks Pictures The groups are outraged over scenes featuring the liberal usage of a disparaging term used to describe the mentally disabled. In the movie, director and co-star Ben Stiller plays a fame-hungry actor cast in a war movie who previously had a role as a mentally disabled character named Simple Jack. The DreamWorks film, which opens Wednesday, also stars Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black. "When I heard about it, I felt really hurt inside," said Special Olympics global messenger Dustin Plunkett. "I cannot believe a writer could write something like that. It's the not the way that we want to be portrayed. We have feelings. We don't like the word ****. We are people. We're just like any other people out there. We want to be ourselves and not be discriminated against." Andrew J. Imparato, president of the American Association of People with Disabilities, said he and other representatives from advocacy groups representing the mentally disabled met with DreamWorks co-chair Stacey Snider and watched a private screening of the film Monday morning. Imparato called the movie "tasteless" and said it was "offensive start to finish." "I have a sense of humor," said Imparato. "There were parts of the movie where I laughed, but it seems to me that the movie tried really hard to go too far and then pull back on everything that was offensive except the issue of people with intellectual disabilities. I just think Ben Stiller and the people involved in this movie just didn't think it was going to be offensive." Following the original complaints from the advocacy groups, DreamWorks pulled some promotional materials, including a Web site that promoted the film-within-a-film starring Stiller's character which contained the tag line "Once there was a ****." DreamWorks spokesman Chip Sullivan previously said in a statement that "no changes or cuts to the film will be made." "If you want to pick on people, as the old playground saying goes, pick on people your own size," said Timothy Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, who is calling for a boycott of "Tropic Thunder" along with the other groups. "This population struggles too much with the basics to have to struggle against Hollywood. We're sending a message that this hate speech is no longer acceptable."
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08-14-2008, 08:41 AM	#2
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Is there a group out there that doesn't have a problem with Tropic Thunder? Lighten up folks. It's a comedy.
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08-16-2008, 06:49 AM	#5
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	This movie looks absolutely awful and Tom Cruise has sunk to a new low in deciding to participate. I really used to admire him and loved his movies but it's been a very long time since that happened. Aside from the disability issues (I work with people every day who have various disabilities so I would probably find the film offensive, too), I also read online that Robert Downey Jr plays a black person in this film. Hmmm.... Andrea
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08-14-2008, 04:32 PM	#3
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,836	I saw a show about the movie and they kept saying "The R-Word." Even when they showed clips of the movie, they bleeped out the word "******." You know, I understand we shouldn't be going out and trying to hurt people's feelings, but I agree with TJL... lighten up. On the show I saw today, the interviewer asked a woman what the the correct term is and she replied "Intellectually Challenged." See, there's a technical term for everything. Though I still don't understand why Little People prefer that over midget.

08-14-2008, 04:47 PM	#4
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Intellectually challenged? That's a new one.

08-29-2008, 09:58 PM	#6
veggie-tari-jenn SARCASTIC COUPON PRINCESS!! Eternal Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 13, 2008 Posts: 1,882	wow i didnt know tom cruise was in this movie...that alone makes me not want to see it....he is awful..imo always has been. i have to see the movie before i can judge it...but it sounds awful....i an a bigg ben stiller fan so i guess i will see it begrugeingly.