Nationwide boycott of ‘Tropical Thunder’ being organized
Posted on August 11th, 2008 by Hot Momma
An ad-hoc coalition of disabilities groups is expected as early as today to call for a national boycott of the film “Tropic Thunder” because of what the groups consider the flick’s open ridicule of the intellectually disabled.
A particular sore point has been the film’s repeated use of the term “retard” in referring to a character, Simple Jack, who is played by Ben. Stiller in a subplot about an actor who chases an Oscar by portraying a mindless dolt.
In earlier interviews with The New York Times, Stiller and Stacey Snider, chief executive of the DreamWorks unit, said the movie’s humor was aimed not at the disabled but at the foolishness of actors who will go to any length in advancing their careers.
After meetings and conference calls with Ms. Snider and others, the studio altered some television advertising, but declined to edit scenes from the movie. The tag line on one mock promotional poster since removed, read, “Once upon a time there was a retard.”
Chip Sullivan, a DreamWorks spokesman, said on Sunday the movie was “an R-rated comedy that satirizes Hollywood and its excesses and makes its point by featuring inappropriate and over-the-top characters in ridiculous situations.” Mr. Sullivan, in the statement, added that the film was not meant to disparage or harm people with disabilities and that DreamWorks expected to work closely with disability groups in the future. But, he said, “No changes or cuts to the film will be made.”
Over the weekend an ad-hoc coalition of more than a dozen disabilities groups — including the Arc of the United States, the National Down Syndrome Congress, the American Association of People With Disabilities and others — laid the groundwork for public protests to begin Monday.
Timothy P. Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, said of the expected push for a boycott that “Not only might it happen, it will happen”. Speaking by phone, Mr. Shriver said he planned to be in Los Angeles with representatives of his group and others to picket the movie’s premiere on Monday evening in this city’s Westwood district.
Mr. Shriver said that he had also begun to ask members of Congress for a resolution condemning what he called the movie’s “hate speech” and calling for stronger federal support of the intellectually disabled.
grow up tards! when are you going to realize boycott or not, you cant tell us what we can see and what we cant’!!!! now i’ll go see it 3 times !!!!
Freedom of speech works both ways. We have the right to say how horrible this movie is and protest it, just like you have the right to see it.
Protesting is a form of freedom of speech.
Perhaps your education will go on to cover that…or possibly punctuation or capitalization.
Who the hell would even go see this stupid movie anyway??????