World Courant
“Depraved” star Marissa Bode has spoken out towards the damaging feedback and jokes about her character Nessarose’s incapacity, calling them “aggressive,” “very gross” and “dangerous.”
In a five-minute video posted on TikTok on Friday, Bode — who makes use of a wheelchair on display and in actual life — shared her ideas on the insensitive feedback circulating on-line about Nessarose, the youthful sister of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo).
“It’s completely OK to not like a fictional character,” Bode stated. “I’m going to be admitting my bias in the best way that I’ve a number of completely different emotions on Nessa than a number of you do, and that is completely high quality. I feel Nessa is advanced, however that is the great thing about artwork. ‘Depraved’ and these characters and the film would not be what it was if there weren’t completely different opinions on the characters and who’s really depraved or not. And never liking Nessa herself is OK. As a result of she is fictional, that is completely high quality.”
Bode acknowledged that she is a “deeply unserious particular person,” who would not thoughts “foolish, goofy, innocent” jokes concerning Nessarose’s character or actions — reiterating that it is as a result of the “Depraved” character is fictional. Nonetheless, she doesn’t condone “aggressive” feedback and jokes about Nessarose’s incapacity, including that they are “deeply uncomfortable.”
“Incapacity will not be fictional,” Bode continued. “On the finish of the day, me, Marissa, is the one that remains to be disabled and in a wheelchair. And so, it’s merely a low-hanging fruit that too lots of you might be snug taking.”
Bode famous that she’s heard many ableist jokes not solely about Nessarose, however about herself. “Earlier than even being forged in ‘Depraved,’ I had obtained feedback — simply neither me, nor Marissa, not Nessa — across the phrases of ‘get up for your self,’ ‘I assume you’ll be able to’t stand him,’ et cetera, ” she stated. “These feedback aren’t authentic, and when these jokes are being made by non-disabled strangers with a punchline of not with the ability to stroll, it very a lot seems like laughing at relatively than laughing with.”
She added, “This goes up to now past me, Marissa, simply needing to disregard feedback on the web. These feedback is not going to exist in a vacuum. Aggressive feedback of eager to trigger hurt and push Nessa out of her wheelchair, or that she deserves her incapacity, are two very gross and dangerous feedback that actual disabled folks, together with myself, have heard earlier than.”
Bode urged “Depraved” viewers to cease dismissing one another and “claiming an expertise cannot be true since you personally do not feel that means a few joke that would not have affected your demographic in any case.”
She continued, “Hearken to the folks or to the individual that it’s affecting and the way it makes them really feel. Fortunately, I am at a spot in my life at this time the place I can acknowledge these jokes about incapacity are made out of ignorance. I could not say the identical about Marissa 10 years in the past, and it could have affected youthful me much more, and I am fearful {that a} youthful model of myself is someplace on the web and is harmed by these feedback.”
Bode concluded the video by saying, “Lastly, I need to say one of many main themes inside ‘Depraved’ is being able to hear and to know each other. And I actually hope that’s one thing a number of you’ll be able to apply extra and take with you.”
Bode is the primary wheelchair consumer in “Depraved’s” historical past to play Nessarose. In an interview with Selection, the actor spoke about including extra dimension to the character by means of the movie adaptation’s two-part construction. (“Depraved: Half Two” arrives on the massive display on Nov. 21, 2025.)
“Clearly, it is a lovely musical and I really like the stage musical, however you do not actually get to see little moments within the bond between the 2 sisters very a lot, or simply their love for one another. You get to see that extra within the movie,” she defined. “And I feel that is actually essential, as a result of it makes what occurs within the second movie all of the extra devastating. It humanizes Nessa as a personality, and exhibits how a lot she cares about folks. I feel it was an excellent resolution.”
Marissa Bode Condemns Feedback About Nessarose’s Incapacity
World Information,Subsequent Massive Factor in Public Knowledg
