We can not let this happen in our society. The Change Up movie’s first scene is discriminatory against individuals with disabilities, in particular those with Down syndrome. WE MUST TAKE ACTION. PLEASE READ ON….
In one scene in the beginning of the movie, Ryan Reynolds who plays a bachelor who has never settled down, visits his long-time friend Jason Bateman; he sees his twins in their high chairs and says, “Why aren’t they talking – what are they retarded?” I thought that was offensive enough but then he says, “And this one, he looks Downsy”.
If this was a slur against blacks or gays those who are Jewish or any other group – would you let this happen? Would Hollywood think this is OK? No, it would not be. We need to send the message in our society that this is NOT OK.
TAKE ACTION:
Will you have the courage to speak up? Will you do the right thing? We have to change our society for the better. Please do NOT go to give your money to this movie. Do not support those who think it is OK to laugh and make jokes at the expense of individuals with disabilities.
HERE IS HOW TO HELP:
1) Like the Facebook group Stop Disability Slurs – Do You Have the Courage? THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP. I NEED YOUR HELP TO GET THIS DONE. This will be a way I can connect with you and enlist your help to keep this campaign going. There is a lot to do!
2) POST the following on your own facebook page (feel free to modify/edit)
Stop Disability Slurs! Do you have the courage? We do not put up with racial/gay/religious slurs so why does this keep happening? We MUST stop our society from thinking this is OK. The Change Up movie and the recent GQ Magazine issue are creating public slurs against people with disabilities. This campaign starts with you. Will the media have the courage to speak up and change their ways? We will see. We hope to make a change. It starts with you. http://bit.ly/ppp9qd
3) TWEET the following
(if you do not use Twitter it is VERY EASY to sign up and this will help spread the word!) Just sign in, create a user name, follow me @Julians_Journey and my followers, then Re-Tweet my post or copy and paste the following and Tweet it:
Stop Disability Slurs! First @GQ now @UniversalPics #TheChangeUp Do we put up w/racial, gay or religious slurs? No. This must stop. http://bit.ly/ppp9qd
4) Post on the GQ Facebook wall thanking them for what they have done so far, but urging them to take it a step further in response to their Down syndrome discrimination. (Also if you feel like plugging Target and Nordstom for ads featuring children with Down syndrome feel free elsewhere) Suggested note for GQ wall (feel free to edit/modify)
The Change Up has followed in your footsteps with their disability slur. I truly appreciate that you have apologized directly to those you offended and removed the offensive language from the website (thank you!) but I hope you consider issuing a print correction and a public apology acknowledging that what you did was wrong PUBLICLY in order to help this from not happening again. Those readers who read your statement have already been influenced into thinking that was OK and they need to hear from you that it was NOT ok.
Note: There is more information below if you want to participate in The Change Up STOP DISABILITY SLURS campaign. Also please be sure to join the group listed in #1 above so I can get back in touch with you to enlist your help!
THANK YOU!
You’ve helped tremendously to spread the word!
For those of you who want to take things a step further, here are some suggestions:
1) Post on other Facebook pages associated with The Change Up (list below..scroll down)
NOTE: For posting on facebook pages for Universal Studios, The Change Up Movie and the directors, writers and actors pages listed below, unfortunately the way facebook works is that unfortunately you have to “Like” a page to try to post on their wall. You can always just unlike them later. This is part of the campaign. Also, they will immediately delete your post, but go in and select ONE TO TWO places to comment on other people’s wall posts. If you do more than that, you will be banned from commenting (like I just was – oops!).
Ok, so go to the list below and BEGIN OUR FIRST PHASE OF THIS CAMPAIGN!. We will be heard! Again I can not stress how important it is for you to join my Facebook Group Stop Disability Slurs (#1 above) so I can enlist your help in the future.
Below are all Facebook links associated with The Change Up Movie and here is a suggested post (feel free to modify/edit)
I speak on behalf of society when I respectfully say – Would you insert a racial, gay or religious slur or joke in the beginning of a movie? I think the answer is NO. Why do you think it is funny to make fun of people with intellectual abilities? Please consider what message this sends to society. Did you know that people with Down syndrome are called just that – PEOPLE with Down syndrome. They deserve respect and dignity. They may develop differently than their typically developing peers but they are contributing members of our society and deserve respect. EVERYONE deserves respect. Please, STOP DISABILITY SLURS. Signed, respectfully yours.
Universal Studios (they will immediately delete. then go on to select 1 or 2 other wall posts to comment)
The Change Up Movie official fan page (they will immediately delete. then go on to select 1 or 2 other wall posts to comment)
Writers:
Jon Lucas (he does not have a wall, just like his page and he will wonder what is going on. don’t worry you can unlike it later)
Scott Moore
Creative Artists Agency
c/o Gregory McKnight, Talent Agent
2000 Avenue Of The Stars
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Phone: +1 424 288 2000
Fax: +1 424 288 2900
gmcknight@caa.com
Producers:
David Dobkin (just like his page to see what he does, then we will all unlike it later)
Neal H. Moritz (same as above)
Director
David Dobkin (same as the producer above)
Starring:
Ryan Reynolds (he will immediately delete your post, and he doesn’t let people comment on his posts)
Jason Bateman (no way to post on his wall, just like him and we will all unlike him later. he will wonder what is going on and this will force him to pay attention)
The Daily Show
Like this page, and scroll down to August 3 where they say Jason Bateman is going to be on. Comment there.
Additional unofficial The Change Up fan pages:
Search facebook for “The Change Up” and many many other fan pages out will come up/ Make sure to take some time to find ALL of the groups, go and LIKE them, then POST and then UNLIKE THEM IMMEDIATELY after you post. Again, since these pages are most likely not restricted, this will be a great way to spread the word.
Thanks for reading and most importantly,
Helping to say to the world that making fun of people with intellectual disabilities is NOT OK!
I WOULD LOVE YOUR COMMENTS HERE ABOUT FUTURE IDEAS TO HELP SPREAD AWARENESS about how to STOP DISABILITY SLURS.
Please let me know if you are interested in being on the STOP DISABILITY SLURS steering committee. This will be an ongoing group that will help organize grassroots and broad media campaigns to spread awareness and stop disability slurs in our society.
I love ideas! For example, my friend Melanie is full of them. Please comment here with your ideas on what you think!
From Melanie: Regarding The Change Up. Some things we can do: write reviews of the movie on imdb and other movie review sites, contact Down syndrome organizations NDSS, NDSC, Special Olympics and any of your local organizations and ask them to write letters on our behalf. Parents, Siblings, Teachers, Coaches, Doctors and Friends it’s tine to STAND UP to this bullying!! I say we Change Up and protest the movie. Let’s organize picketed protests at local theaters. Get a group of friends, make signs, call the media. Enough already!!!
Talk to you soon,
Gretchen
Email | stopdisabilityslurs@gmail.com
Make sure to leave a comment below!
Onward.
Please do not publicly boycott GQ. They removed the offensive sentence and apologized. This was the letter they sent to our friend Laura:
Hi Thomas, Thanks for your note.
Many people received that blanket apology from GQ and yes, they removed the offensive language from their WEBSITE but the damage was done in their print issue. They can not just silently apologize to those people passionate about supporting disability awareness. Unfortunately by not issuing a public apology and issuing a correction in a future print issue, GQ is silently sweeping this issue under the rug.
I understand that we do have to applaud GQ for at least apologizing somewhat to those who wrote them directly, but isn’t it the OTHER people who DIDN’T write them directly that need to be educated?
Just some food for thought.
My understanding was that the article was a website only article and was not published in the magazine. Am I wrong?
I’m actually not sure Thomas….I would like to know. But even if it was just the website, people read the damaging words, and those people also need to read an apology from GQ that their words were wrong. (this is my opinion)
I would love for GQ to issue an apology in their next printed issue. That would be fabulous. Until the next issue is out. . . As for The Change Up–they are deleting my post like crazy. I feel like a stalker.
I know. All of the sites are deleting the posts like crazy. Let’s do this over the next few days to help spread the word. I think the next step is to go out to the media outlets to help spread the message.
Someone had an idea to post in the wall posts sections of these pages under the comments. Do this 1 – 2 times, no more. Or you will be banned, like i was! Oops
You might want to change “Justin Bateman” to “Jason Bateman” in your second paragraph, I think. Been prostesting these types of situations since Napoleon Dynamite. And @Tom – I emailed GQ and received no response. Their article was public, and their apology should be as well.
Thanks for the heads up on changing Justin to Jason. Done. I don’t have much hope that GQ will apologize publicly, but our message has been heard at least. But I hope we do not stop at sweeping things under the rug as being OK.
I sent Universal an email: this is what i wrote:
I have enjoyed thousands of movies that you put out. I have always said to my husband and child that if it’s from Universal the movie has got to be good. But for the first time in a long time I am truly disappointed and shocked that you put awesome actors into a role that would profoundly shock a lot of your “paying customers.” I am referring to the movie The Change Up. I am hearing from my DS (Down Syndrome community) that people have walked out and requesting their money back. One of the main characters asks his friends why his twin babies are not talking yet – says what are they retarded? When friend says they are not – he says – are you sure this one looks a little Downsy! Completely rude. And down right offensive. This is too bad, cause I think Jason Bateman is an awesome actor, I remember when he was in shows like Silver Spoons as a child. What are you going to do about this to correct this? This movie has people angry all over the globe. Did someone never ever once think about what those two lines would do to half of your viewers? I already have it on my facebook to boycott this movie. I have over a 1000 folks on my page. This has been re-posted multiple times. Every person in the world will tell at least 7 people not to watch this show. Truly disappointing considering it looked funny. But now will never watch it because of discrimination….of all people with Down Syndrome, not just my own child. I do require an email back.
Thanks Brandi! To what address did you send this letter? I will update my blog post
Here is the link to a review by The San Francisco Chronicle. The author specifically states that it pokes fun of babies with Down syndrome.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2011%2F08%2F04%2FDDJG1KIUT5.DTL
Here is the movie review with the very well written comment about the line in the movie:
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/08/05/the-change-up-review-revue/?mod=google_news_blog
I am interested in Stop Dis Slurs. please send me more info at narrettog@yahoo.com
Thank you for doing this and I am currently working on my first letter.THis totally sickens me that someone (many people) use ugly words in reference to my son and so many other friends
april
Pingback: Cowards: “The Change-Up” and Disability Slurs | Bringing the Sunshine
I have joined the boycott. I hope more people take a stand on this!
I was referred by A Perfect Lily, and I most definitely will be boycotting the movie and joining this fight!
Thank you for this blog post and all the information you have provided. I am working my way through the steps and will contact EVERY person listed. I am sharing the story of what happened to my family in early April. Here is my post…
I have two young daughters who are beautiful, smart, loving girls who happen to have Down Syndrome. In April our family woke up to find our home had been spray painted with things like “Get Outta Town Retards” and “Retards Dead”. We were the victims of a cruel, cowardly, hate filled act. Your mockery of People with Intellectual Disabilities in the movie The Change Up, makes it acceptable for people to use “retard” and “downsy” as a punchline. It makes it accpetable to spread hate. It makes targeting, bullying, and demeaning my innocent 5 year old daughters laughable.
I would like to ask you a question. Would you insert a racial, gay or religious slur or joke in the beginning of a movie? I think the answer is NO. Why do you think it is funny to make fun of people with intellectual abilities? Please consider what message this sends to society.
Did you know that people with Down syndrome are called just that – PEOPLE with Down syndrome. They deserve respect and dignity. They may develop differently than their typically developing peers but they are contributing members of our society and deserve respect. I use to believe that EVERYONE deserves respect. In fact, that was a message I taught all 4 of my children. However I can no longer say EVERYONE deserves respect. People who mock, bully and ridicule others do not deserve respect, but they do deserve forgiveness when they do the right thing. I hope you will be an example of how to admit a mistake and make amends.
Sincerely,
Pingback: CareerDiva - Career Advice, Labor Issues, Job News and Opportunities, Balancing Work and Family. » Happy Playboy Bunnies, Downs Jokes: Should workers care?
Thank you, Gretchen, for your kind words and insight into the world of special needs. It is very obvious you are a caring and compassionate soul. These slurs must come to an end, and who better than Hollywood to set the example?
As the mother of a young man with Down syndrome, I took great offense when I heard about the slurs in this movie. My son, Robert Pio Hajjar, is co-founder of Ideal-Way.ca, a charity dedicated to education and relief of poverty for persons with intellectual disabilities. First and foremost, he is a human being. Robert is not a “retard”, he is a person with Down syndrome, which is an intellectual disability.
Robert is a widely-acclaimed motivational speaker who has addressed audiences of 150 to 3000 across North America.
His message has been so well received that students have come forward after to tell us they would never, ever look at a differently abled person the same way again! We have heard them say they actually laughed when they first came, only to walk away with great respect and great appreciation for Rob after hearing and getting to know him. Very powerful words from those who will one day have children of their own and sensitize them to the special people in this world.
I challenge anyone to use the word “retard” so negatively and so indiscriminately after hearing Robert. The word “mongol” must also be used in the proper way. The Mongols are a race of people. I challenge anyone to enthusiastically shout out several times a day “I love my life”, as Robert does!
It’s been a long, lonely, uphill battle for parents, families and educators of persons with Down syndrome, autism, and other intellectual and physical disabilities. Our special community deserves no less than anyone else … love, support, respect, inclusion and encouragement!
In Robert Pio’s words, “Keep the Faith”.
May I have your permission to C&P this on my blog?
Pingback: Top 10 Posts of All Time | Julian's Journey – Life As We Know It