On November 22, after years of anticipation, Universal finally premiered its highly awaited film adaptation of Wicked, bringing the beloved Broadway musical to the big screen. The film stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. Unlike the iconic portrayal in The Wizard of Oz (1939), this version of Elphaba isn’t “wicked” at all. In fact, she’s one of the kindest students at Shiz University, simply hoping to fit in—though that’s a bit challenging given her green skin.
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Even before its release, Wicked had already captured the public’s imagination as one of the year’s most anticipated films. Fans were eager to see the hit Broadway musical, which debuted in 2003, come to life on screen. As expected, it quickly became a holiday sensation. While there’s some debate about whether singing along in theaters is acceptable, it hasn’t lessened the widespread love for the film.
However, not everything is as rosy as it seems, and one actress is discovering the less glamorous side of fame.
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Marissa Bode, known for her role as Nessarose in the recently released film adaptation of Wicked, has spoken out against the wave of ableist jokes that have circulated online since the film’s premiere on November 22. As the first disabled actress to portray Nessarose, Bode’s performance has been met with both admiration and disdain.
While she appreciates the enthusiastic response from the audience, Bode is disheartened by the harmful comments directed toward her character after the film’s release.
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Many internet users have utilized Bode’s character, Nessarose, to propagate derogatory comments. These comments are particularly alarming as they reflect a broader trend of online abuse targeting disabled individuals. Bode has emphasized that these remarks go beyond mere fictional critiques; they strike at the heart of real-world issues surrounding disability.
In her candid TikTok video, Bode differentiates between humor that is acceptable and that which crosses the line into harmful territory. She notes that it is perfectly fine for audiences to dislike Nessarose as a fictional character—complexity and conflicting opinions are inherent to the art of storytelling.
@marissa_edob Representation is important but that’s not the only thing that will save the disabled community. I need a lot of y’all (non-disabled people) to do the work. To dissect and unlearn your own ableism. Listen to disabled people. Follow other disabled people outside of just me. Read up on the disability rights movement/watch the documentary Crip Camp! I understand no one likes feeling like they’re being scolded. But true progress never comes with comfort. And that’s ok. #wicked #nessa 💗💚
However, she said that it is very important to remember that the actor is not the character they play. Unfortunately, fans seem to have forgotten that and have made some very cruel comments to the actress — who is the first disabled woman to play Nessarose.
”Disability is not fictional. At the end of the day, me, Marissa, is the person that is still disabled and in a wheelchair. So, it is simply a low-hanging fruit that too many of you are comfortable taking.”
”This goes far beyond me, Marissa, just needing to ignore comments on the internet. These comments do not exist in a vacuum. Aggressive comments of wanting to cause harm and push Nessa out of her wheelchair, or that she deserves her disability, are two very gross and harmful comments that real disabled people, including myself, have heard before.”
The impact of ableist comments can be detrimental, not only to Bode but to the entire community of disabled creators. Bode has expressed her fears about the consequences of speaking out against such behavior, as other disabled content creators have experienced mental health deterioration due to online trolling.
She stresses that the comments she has received are not isolated incidents; they reveal a troubling trend in social media culture that often dismisses the lived experiences of disabled individuals.
Bode urges her followers and viewers of Wicked to engage in a deeper understanding of her perspective. She calls upon them to actively listen to the experiences of disabled individuals and recognize that their comments have real-world implications. The overarching theme of Wicked—the ability to communicate and empathize with others—resonates with Bode’s message about inclusivity.
Who is your favorite character in Wicked? How do you think actors should handle trolls who attack them personally because of their character? Share your thoughts in the comments!
