“This programme has a very shocking word in it. The R word. I understand that it will be upsetting to many. But I believe that we need to confront this word and other ableist terms head on for people to realise how damaging it is. So I said to Channel 4, let’s use that word in the title and hopefully by the end of this film, people will think twice before ever using that word again.” So says comedian Rosie Jones at the start of her new Channel 4 documentary, Am I a R*tard?
The Disabled online community has already gone full Mary Whitehouse at the news, with three much loved and respected young Disabled influencers pulling a short segment from the film, expressing their pain at the use of the word, and receiving a groundswell of support, mainly from Disabled people, across social media.
Should we be using the word in any social contexts? It’s a tough one. Rosie is one of a very small handful of people in mainstream media who is very visibly Disabled. She is one of an even smaller tribe who are bluntly outspoken and deal with issues head on – confrontationally.
