Disabled contributors withdraw from Rosie Jones’ documentary as they claim title is ‘damaging’

Disabled contributors have pulled out of a Channel 4 documentary led by comedian Rosie Jones, claiming the title was ‘harmful’.

Rosie Jones: Am I a R*tard? aims to research and educate viewers about the online abuse faced by people with disabilities, including Ms Jones, 33, who has cerebral palsy.

Ballerina Kate Stanforth, model Lucy Dawson and social media influencer Shelby Lynch have all dropped out after being left “heartbroken” by the use of the offensive slur they fought for months to remove.

Ms Stanforth posted a ‘small but important statement’ on Instagram claiming that a number of issues had come up during the process, which led to myself and all my friends withdrawing permission to use our material.

She said: ‘This includes a lengthy discussion about why we think the title will be detrimental to the disabled community and great push to change this.’

She went on to thank the disabled community for “all those who joined this one to put as much pressure on the team as possible so we could try and get the right result, even if it meant having to put our hard work to work.” delete. We got you’.

Ms Dawson said she “definitely won’t be watching” as the title is “too exciting regardless of whether it’s good or bad for me because of what went on behind the scenes”.

The model, who remained disabled after contracting autoimmune encephalitis in 2016, said the battle was “mentally draining.”

“The whole thing has been mentally draining for the past two months and honestly I have had countless nights with no sleep and many tears at the thought of THAT trending on Twitter, said on talk shows etc by non-disabled people [sic] and the damage it would do,” she wrote on Twitter.

“As with many previous documentaries, several disabled contributors – whom the doctor is meant to help – were injured in the process.”

She said their tireless challenge led to an asterisk being added, but that they “couldn’t have tried harder” to remove the word from the title entirely.

“I really think the Doctor will be brilliant and discuss really important topics, which is why it’s even more a shame to use that title,” she said.

Ms Lynch said she ‘wanted nothing to do with the documentary unless the name was changed’.

Documentary: Rosie Jones: Am I a R*tard? aims to educate viewers about online abuse faced by people with disabilities, including Ms Jones, 33, who has cerebral palsy

“Talking about prowess on mainstream TV is obviously something that needs to be discussed, but the way it happened I can’t support and all three of us have spoken out against them,” she told her followers.

She said she had “cried so many tears over this situation because I was terrified that I would abandon the disability community and that nothing would hurt me anymore.”

Ms Lynch claimed the title could make life “more difficult” for her disabled followers.

Mrs Jones, 33, who appeared in Would I Lie to You? and 8 Out of 10 Cats Countdown acknowledged that the word is “very shocking and disturbing” as she defended the title.

“In my opinion, society doesn’t take this word and other skillful forms of language as seriously as any other form of abuse by other minorities,” she said.

“So I said to Channel 4, ‘Let’s do it, let’s tackle the problem head-on and use that word in the title and hopefully people will think twice about using the word and other abusive insults ever again’.”

The Daily Mail understands that the title was not chosen lightly and that the broadcaster worked with a disability adviser.

Defense: Ms. Jones, 33, who appeared in Would I Lie to You? and 8 Out of 10 Cats Countdown Acknowledged the Word Is “Very Shocking” While Defending the Title

Actress and disability campaigner Samatha Renke, who has Osteogenesis Imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease, said: ‘When so many people are saddened and triggered by your actions, you really need to pay attention and approach it with respect and empathy. No ego!’

A Channel 4 spokesperson said that “the use of the r-word in the documentary is within the context of the topic being explored and is specific to the abuse Rosie receives on social media.”

The added: ‘The film makes it very clear that it is an unacceptable and offensive term and its inclusion was carefully considered in conversations with the editorial team, Rosie and a disability consultant…

“We have removed three contributors from the documentary at their request and fully respect their decision to withdraw.”