Hollywood

Hi,


(Trigger warning: suicide)

So, all of the time we hear of celebrity endorsed campaigns and charities in aid of suicide prevention. Normally addressing the viewer directly and the celebrity talking about their own attempted suicide or about a case study, reassuring those watching they aren't alone and said charity will help them, if they reach out to it. We are all familiarised with these ways breakthrough. Even Hollywood films are used to spread these vital messages, right?
For any able-bodied person, the answer, in general, would be yes. So why are Hollywood writers and directors telling a completely different message to the disabled community?

So many films are depicting the life of a PWD isn't worth living, that we are supposedly wanting to kill ourselves to end our 'suffering'- that that's the only way to escape what 'unfair' lives we live. That we aren't worth it.

A extremely recently film, me before you, is in a line of rom-coms to go down this plot route. Although I personally haven't seen this film, from reading articles and reviews of it, this is what many disability activists make of it.

(The striped back plot is that a guy named Will is super rich with a city job, but becomes quadriplegic after an accident. His carer,Louise, is horrified when Will wants to visit an assisted suicide clinic to end his life. The pair obviously fall in love, but Will still wants to go ahead with his original plan.)

At the film premiere the activism group 'Not Dead Yet' staged a protest and some activists have voiced their discomfort with the plot
“The message of the film is that disability is tragedy and disabled people are better off dead,” said disabled activist, Ellen Clifford.  “It comes from a dominant narrative carried by society and the mainstream media that says it is a terrible thing to be disabled.”

I don't really know what to make of this topic to be honest. On one hand I feel like it provokes discussion about disability which are extremely important to get into mainstream media. However, it literally leaves a window of opportunity for so many people to stereotype PWDs as suicidal, due to the fact that there is a lack of representation of PWDs in films and TV shows.
But one thing that I'm sure of is that Hollywood has created this plot line and pulling the pity card to get more money. Always the case!

Anyway, sorry this is so late- lack of inspiration

Byeeeeeeeeee