Rosie Jones documentary title sparks backlash from disabled contributors

Rosie Jones has defined why she determined to make use of an ableist slur within the title of her new documentary.

The comic is going through a backlash from marketing campaign teams following the announcement of a Channel 4 venture that goals to teach viewers on the abuse disabled folks face each day.

There was a lot concern about its designated title – Rosie Jones: Am I a R***** – that contributors who have been set to characteristic within the documentary, Shelby Lynch, Kate Stanforth and Lucy Dawson, have withdrawn from the venture.

Social media influencer and mannequin Lynch informed her followers on Instagram that “the previous few months have been very emotionally draining for me and two of my different superb disabled mates”.

She continued: “As a few of you might know we have been requested to participate in a documentary about Ableism and On-line Trolling with a widely known disabled comic. Speaking about ableism on mainstream TV its clearly one thing that must be mentioned however the best way it’s occurred isn’t one thing that I can assist and all three of us spoke out in opposition to them.”

Lynch mentioned she was left “heartbroken” by the title, including: “I didn’t need something to do with the documentary except the title was modified and we went backwards and forwards for what looks like without end. I cried so many tears over this case as I used to be terrified that I’d let the disabled group down and nothing would damage me extra.”

She mentioned that she was “offended and upset” by the title as it should make her disabled followers lives “harder”, and it was “in the end determined that the three of us could be eliminated from the documentary as an alternative of the title being chaged”.

“I actually hope you perceive that we did all we might to vary the title however sadly we weren’t listened to,” she acknowledged.

In the meantime, in a separate Instagram put up, ballerina and mannequin Kate Stanforth wrote: “Myself and various influencers have been initially a part of the brand new Rosie Jones documentary which is because of air quickly. There have been various points raised all through the method, which led to myself and all my mates to withdraw consent to make use of our materials.

“This features a prolonged dialogue on why we expect the title shall be damaging to the disabled group and main strain to vary this. Regardless, I nonetheless hope the documentary highlights the abuse disabled folks get each day and thank the disabled group who have been concerned on this for all rallying collectively on this one for placing as a lot strain on the group as potential so we might attempt get the right end result, even when that meant scrapping our arduous work. We bought you.”

The third contributor, mannequin Lucy Dawson, acknowleged that “the doc shall be good” and can “focus on actual necessary subjects”, however mentioned this was “why it’s much more of a disgrace to make use of that title”.

She additionally mentioned she “positively gained’t be watching as a result of it’s gonna be too triggering no matter if it’s good or unhealthy for me now due to what went on behind the scenes – loads of what I haven’t even scratched the floor with”.

Jones has since posted a video to elucidate her resolution behind utilizing “a really surprising phrase” within the title.

“I get it, lots of people will discover this phrase very surprising and upsetting. However in my view, society doesn’t take this phrase and different ableist types of language as critically as every other type of abuse from every other minorities. So, I mentioned to Channel 4: ‘Let’s do it, let’s deal with the issue head on and use that phrase within the title after which, hopefully, folks will assume twice about utilizing the phrase and different ableist slurs ever once more’.”

A Channel 4 spokesperson supported Jones, stating: “This movie is an authored documentary by Rosie Jones to lift consciousness and educate viewers concerning the challenge of ableism and the size of abuse she and different disabled folks face each day.

“The usage of the R-word within the documentary is inside context of the subject material being explored and particular to the abuse Rosie receives on social media. The movie makes very clear it’s an unacceptable and offensive ableist time period and its inclusion was fastidiously thought-about in conversations with the editorial group, Rosie and a incapacity marketing consultant.”