Special Olympics Boycotts Tropic Thunder - Special Olympics Florida

Be a fan of Dignity. Boycott "Tropic Thunder"

Overview

"Tropic Thunder," a DreamWorks production starring Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey and several other Hollywood actors, is now playing in movie theaters nationwide.

"Tropic Thunder" has been marketed as a satire about Hollywood actors and the movie industry in general. It is intended to be an adult comedy with crass jokes and scenes to make moviegoers laugh.

We here at Special Olympics are not laughing.

In "Tropic Thunder," there is a movie-within-the movie called Simple JackOnce upon a time there was a retard where Ben Stiller plays a simple man with intellectual disability. Both "Tropic Thunder" and "Simple Jack" contain extremely offensive material promoting the idea that a "retard" is funny.

This theme runs throughout the film and occurs on numerous occasions.

Special Olympics, along with a coalition of national disability organizations, engaged in conversations with DreamWorks to address the content, requesting DreamWorks take action to delete these scenes from the film and marketing platform. Unfortunately, those scenes will not be deleted from the film.

While we are offended that the movie was produced containing this hateful material, we also see the release of "Tropic Thunder" as a rare opportunity to address the much needed abuse of the R-word in society.

Special Olympics has decided to lead an effort to publicly address this language and the negative attitudes and behaviors associated with the use of the pejorative "retard."

Whenever it's used, the R-word is derogatory hate speech that demeans the more than three percent of people around the world who have intellectual disabilities. Hollywood and Tropic Thunder use and abuse the R-word, encouraging behavior that continues to demean a portion of our population who already face many challenges.

We are asking for your support of a national boycott of "Tropic Thunder." Be a fan of human dignity: do not see this film!

Our greatest asset always has been and always will be our grassroots strength: you can help send a signal to Hollywood that there are ramifications for their actions.

Through all of our efforts and the resources you will find here, we will:

- Communicate the hurt caused by using the R-word and show the media and the public the people affected by hate speech.
- Change negative perceptions of people with intellectual disabilities by portraying athletes as capable people who are personable, varied and fun; not people to be pitied, mocked or viewed in a negative, one-sided stereotyped way.
- Make it socially unacceptable to use the term retard or similar derogatory terms, whether in jest or not.
- Increase awareness and further educate the public about Special Olympics and the abilities of our athletes.
- Show how Special Olympics changes the attitudes and lives of people with and without disabilities.

Your voice, your actions and your support matter. They matter to the 200 million people around the world who have intellectual disabilities and fight for acceptance, equality and inclusion every day.

We thank you for assisting us in our effort to let Hollywood and the public know that discrimination and hate speech are NOT acceptable. Let's see what our unified efforts can achieve.

Read a synopsis of the film and learn more about the content we're objecting to. Warning: article includes excerpts of the offensive scenes and may not suitable for all.

Updates/Latest News

Check in here daily to stay updated on any developments, news or upcoming media coverage.

What You Can Do

Here are ways you can help!

Boycott "Tropic Thunder." Do not see the film. If you have children who are young adults (or any age, for that matter), encourage them and their friends to not see this film. Low box office is the only thing that makes a statement in Hollywood.
Word of mouth: tell friends, family, and colleagues to boycott "Tropic Thunder" and help educate them as to why Special Olympics and countless other disability organizations take issue with the "R-word."
Send e-mails out to your friends, family and colleagues with a link to this page (INSERT LINK HERE) so they can learn more. Here's a sample e-mail for you to start from: TXT file or Word Document.
Add a line to your e-mail auto-signature saying: Be a fan of dignity. Boycott "Tropic Thunder." Learn more at www.specialolympicsflorida.org
Text or call your family, friends and colleagues.
Use social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook, Second Life and Linked In pages to help spread the message. Feel free to link to this page from your pages!
Post comments in support of this effort on any blogs where you see commentary about these issues. Below are some bloggers to check out.
Send a letter to DreamWorks. Feel free to personalize this letter with your own stories or sentiments: TXT file or Word Document.
Send a letter to Ben Stiller. Again, feel free to personalize this letter: TXT file or Word Document.
Visit R-word.org and pledge to not use the "R word" and sign our on-line petition. Get your friends and family to do the same!
Disperse these "Tropic Thunder" boycott leaflets and "R word" fliers at any event you feel is appropriate.
Be creative! Our only request is that any efforts on behalf of Special Olympics be positive and help educate. This is a great opportunity to raise awareness about the abilities of people with intellectual disability and the life-changing power of Special Olympics. Out of adversity, we hope to create new fans of Special Olympics!

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions we have received and/or anticipate receiving. You may find these helpful for when you are talking to others about this boycott and the call to end the use of the "R-word."

Q. What is offensive in the "Tropic Thunder" movie? A. "Tropic Thunder" repeatedly uses the R-word and portrays people with intellectual disabilities in a derogatory and demeaning way. Specifically, one of the films characters, Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) plays a role as a farm boy with a mental impairment in a movie trailer called Simple Jack.Once upon a time there was a Retard. Throughout the movie "Tropic Thunder" this character is played for laughs, at the expense of people with intellectual disability.

Q. Are you calling for a boycott of the "Tropic Thunder" movie?
A. We are calling the public to take action and let the Hollywood community know, especially DreamWorks and Paramount, that this type of language is defamatory and hateful, perpetuating negative stereotypes and the dehumanizing and devaluing of people with intellectual disabilities. Hollywood must take responsibility and accept a role in helping to eradicate this word from our language NOT promote its use.

Q. Did DreamWorks seek counsel from disability groups when making that scene in the film?
A. Studios often seek counsel on sensitive topics from focus groups; and while war veterans and representatives from the African-American community were brought in to help ensure that the potentially offensive material affecting those populations was "OK," DreamWorks did not seek input or counsel when creating the "Simple Jack" scene of the film. It is clear that the producers did not see an issue with the demeaning content of this scene.

Q. Why is this really so bad? It is only movie.
A. Societys attitudes and behaviors are shaped by the mass media. Catch phrases and terminology are also strongly influenced by television and film. The depiction of the character Simple Jack in Tropic Thunder perpetuates negatives images and stereotypes of people with intellectual disabilities. The hurtful use of the r-word in movies like Tropic Thunder unfortunately dont stay in the movie theatres and eventually become taunts in the school halls.

Q. What do you want the movie studios to do to make amends?
A. We want DreamWorks and Paramount to step up and help us eradicate this word from all forms of American popular culture. In addition, we want all the major entertainment heads to come together to address this issue and no longer use the R-word in film, television, music or any form of entertainment.

Q. Some people will argue that retard is a word that can be found in the dictionary and there is freedom of speech issue at stake. What do you say to them?
A. It is not the word that we object to. It is the use of the word in todays culture in a demeaning and negative way. As to free speech, we have successfully over the years been able to make it socially and politically incorrect to use other forms of hate speech. It is time to make the pejorative use of the R-word equally unacceptable.

Q. Are all these disability groups and advocates just being too sensitive? Isn't this film a comedy after all?
A. The groups invlovled in this protest understand that this is a satire and that the film is also mocking the characters in the film: a group of self-absorbed actors whose career interests are the impetus for doing just about anything, no matter how offensive. Everyone enjoys a good comedy.

What we do not find funny are the pervasive attacks in the film on people with intellectual disability that never have a counterpoint. Whereas Robert Downey, Jr.'s character (a white method actor who dies his pigment to become black, essentially, a white man in black face) gets called out on his behavior by another black actor, "Simple Jack" has no defender.

Q. What should concerned citizens who disapprove of this type of hateful language do?
A. Concerned Americans should go to www.r-word.org and become part of a community to promote inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities by eliminating the pejorative use of the R-word.

Q. Is Special Olympics part of the larger disabilities coalition that is taking umbrage with the "Tropic Thunder" film?
A: Yes, Special Olympics is part of a larger coalition representing national disability organizations who are also outraged by the film, including...

Q: Have you seen the movie?
A: I have seen the trailers and promotional materials on-line to know just how offensive the Simple Jack scene of the movie is. In or out of context, that scene and the promotion around that scene, is perpetuating society's never-ending negative attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities.

Q: How can Special Olympics, who cooperated with the Farrelly Brothers on a Film Comedy, speak out against "Tropic Thunder?"
A: Special Olympics understands how comedy, when used correctly, can change societal attitudes. "The Ringer," is a movie that positively depicts people with intellectual disabilities, breaks down negatives stereotypes and shows how people with intellectual disabilities have talents and capabilities and are more alike to all of us than different. "The Ringer" also used actors with intellectual disabilities. While the content may appear similar to some, the intent is the difference.

Q. What is the R-word campaign all about?
A. The R-word campaign is an initiative being spearheaded by Special Olympics to eliminate the word retard from everyday language, as well as in film and music. We view the R-word as derogatory hate speech that further perpetuates negative stereotypes and dehumanizes people with intellectual disability.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 3% of the worlds population has intellectual disabilities. Most of those people are functioning, contributing members to society who warrant the same respect that we afford our friends and neighbors.

"R-Word" Campaign and R-word.org

The Campaign:
The R-word campaign is an initiative being spearheaded by Special Olympics to eliminate the word "retard," when used as a derogatory term, from everyday language, as well as in film and music. We view the R-word as dehumanizing hate speech that further perpetuates negative stereotypes about people with intellectual disability.

Unfortunately, it has become common place in our vernacular for people to casually and callously use this term. Have you ever done something silly or embarrassing and had a friend or colleague say "that's so retarded" or "you're so retarded"?

There is a very real disconnect for countless people between using this term, which is rooted in making unfair and often unwarranted comparisons to people with intellectual disabilities, and their opinions towards our population. They would never dream of openly mocking a person with intellectual disability: that's cruel and they would tell you so. But they don't give a second thought to saying "that's so retarded."

It's not funny. It's not cool. No matter how you use it. Be a fan of anyone who doesn't use the R-word.

The Public Service Announcement:
Special Olympics has produced a brand new public service announcement addressing the use of the "R-word." You should be seeing the ad on national television soon and you will soon be able to view it on our YouTube channel!

The public service announcement features Miami's very own Andy Miyares!

R-word.org:
Special Olympics has created r-word.org, a brand new website where you can...
- Make your pledge to never use "retard" in a defamatory or hurtful way.

What Special Olympics is Doing

In addition to all of the ways to get involved at the grassroots level that you've seen on this page and the resources that go along with those efforts, Special Olympics is leveraging its international, national, state and local media relationships to help raise awareness in communities throughout the country about the overwhelming use of the word retard" in todays society and the hurtful impact it makes on people with intellectual disabilities.

Here in Florida, we have: - Sent a statewide Letter to the Editor to all of Florida's daily and weekly newspapers, from our President, Monty Castevens.
- Sent statewide e-mail communications to all of our "fans" in the private, corporate and governmental sectors.

Furthermore, we will:
- Work with any and all Florida disabilities organizations that wish to join us in this fight.
- Keep you informed of any developments along the way.

Read the "Coalition Statement of Support and Solidarity"

In the Media

This issue is already generating a lot of media attention around the world: even more people are becoming educated about the devastating effects the "R-Word" can have on people with intellectual disability and their families.

There are so many stories coming in that we're listing just some of the media coverage the boycott is receiving, we will post more as they come in:

As of 8/28/08:
Atlanta Journal Constitution

As of 8/22/08:
L.A. Times: Op-ed from Maria Shriver, First Lady of California

As of 8/19/08:
Richmond Times Dispatch: perhaps one of the most eloquent explanations of why the "R-word' isn't "just a word" to our athletes. This letter to the editor was written by John Franklin Stephens, a Global Messenger from Virginia.
The State (South Carolina): one journalist's perspective on the "R word" and being the sibling of a person with intellectual disability.

As of 8/18/08:
Good Morning America - Tim Shriver and Loretta Claiborne

As of 8/17/08:
Washington Post - Patricia Bauer article

As of 8/15/08:
Central Florida News 13 - Interview with Special Olympics Florida officials

As of 8/14/08:
The Destin Log
Chicago Tribune
FOX - Mike and Juliet in the Morning, featuring FL athlete Eddie Barbanell

As of 8/13/08:
WFOR CBS Miami - featuring local athlete Andy Miyares
CNN - commentary from Tim Shriver
FOX and Friends - Tim Shriver and FL athlete Eddie Barbanell
MSNBC with video
WEAR ABC - Pensacola. SOFL athlete leaders and volunteers weigh in.
Entertainment Weekly

As of 8/12/08:
NPR - All Things Considered with Tim Shriver, Chairman, Special Olympics
KHNL (NBC) - Hawaii
NPR - Day to Day (this is excellent)
Washington Post coverage of boycott at premiere in LA
CNN coverage of boycott at premiere in LA
ABC News with video

As of 8/11/08:
Yahoo! News
ABC News
Reuter's
CNN
Perez Hilton
MTV.com
New York Times
New York Times - 8/10/08
Washington Post - Op-ed piece from Tim Shriver, Chairman, Special Olympics Open/download PDF of article
Forbes
AOL News
Comcast Net Entertainment
CBC News Canada
Chronicle of Philanthropy

National Organizations Boycotting Film

Special Olympics is part of a larger, unprecedented, national coalition representing national disability organizations who are also outraged by this film. Over 200 organizations have signed the Statement of Support. The original coalition memebers include:

American Association of People with Disabilities
Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Best Buddies
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. (COPAA)
Disability Policy Collaboration National Coalition on Self-Determination
National Council on Independent Living
National Down Syndrome Congress
National Down Syndrome Society
Northwest Down Syndrome Association
Parent to Parent USA
Self Advocates Becoming Empowered
Special Olympics
TASH
The Arc of the United States

We encourage all disability organizations in Florida to support this effort and to feel free to use any of the materials we have provided. Florida disability organizations interested in this campaign who would like to know more, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Blogs

These are just some of the blogs that have commented on this issue. If you read a posting you like, we encourage you to respond to that blogger and thank them or encourage their efforts to help end such hurtful and insensitive attacks on people with intellectual disabilities in entertainment, the media, and everyday life.

We will add select additional posts as we become aware of them.

http://www.patriciaebauer.com/

The Tallahassee Democrat's Executive Editor's Blog

http://www.catholicexchange.com/2008/08/13/113466/

http://theparkerfamily5.blogspot.com/2008/08/this-awesome-family-with-little-brother.html

http://coralandopal.blogspot.com/2008/08/never-go-full-retard.html

http://triggottphotography.blogspot.com/

http://actsofkindness4u.blogstream.com/

http://nurturingnuggets.typepad.com/the_nurturing_nuggets_blo/

http://specialedlaw.blogs.com

http://teacheffectively.com/

http://www.parentingacomplexchild.blogspot.com/