Aug 12, 2008 10:10 pm US/Central
'Tropic Thunder' Boycotted Over Word 'Retard'
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
A new Ben Stiller comedy hits theaters at midnight, but dozens of advocacy groups for people with disabilities have launched a boycott of the movie. As CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports, they say there's nothing funny about using a derogatory word throughout the film.
Critics may love "Tropic Thunder," which is a satiric take on Hollywood and actors, but disability rights groups say the depiction of a man with intellectual disabilities and the repeated use of the word "retard" is nothing short of hateful.
Tropic Thunder is a comedy about a group of actors making a war movie, who wind up fighting for their own lives. But disability rights groups say there's nothing funny about it.
Activists from 22 organizations are protesting the movie's depiction of people with intellectual disabilities – as portrayed by Ben Stiller's character in the film – and the word "retard," saying enough is enough.
"We feel 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 anger has spilled into Chicago, too.
Jim Haptonstahl called it, "A demeaning and degrading parody of a person with intellectual disabilities."
Haptonstahl works with that community at Cicero's Seguin Services and has a brother with Downs Syndrome. He supports the protest as a way to educate and stop the stereotyping.
"What can we do to counteract this; use this really as an opportunity to tell people about the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities, about the value and dignity that they want to live with," Haptonstahl said.
The controversy now has the actors defending the script.
Stiller said, "I'm sorry that they have this opinion. I know that the people organizing it have not even seen the film. I think in the context of the movie, it's really clear where we're coming from, but it was not meant to offend anybody."
Co-star Robert Downey Jr. said, "If I want to protest something because it offends me, that's my right as an American; and it's also in the artists' right to say and do whatever they want to do.
Local disability rights groups are also planning a protest here in Chicago on Friday.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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