Critics Boycott CBS Series 'The Stand' Because the Actor Playing the Deaf Character Can Hear

Well, it had to happen eventually.

In our new woke paradigm, actress Scarlett Johansson can’t portray a woman identifying as a man. Nor can James Corden be a straight actor playing a gay character.

Thus, we take an obvious next step: Deaf characters should only be played by deaf actors.

Such is the premise of a December 17th letter picking up steam on the web, which condemns the casting of actor Henry Zaga.

Henry can currently be seen as Nick Andros in a new adaptation of Stephen King’s bestseller The Stand on CBS.

In the series, Nick is deaf.

But there’s some unacceptability afoot: Henry, as it turns out, can hear.

Here’s something else you need to know: the studio decided only to audition hearing actors for the role of a Deaf character. When I tell you I’m tired of Hollywood’s inequitable processes, I MEAN IT. Disabilities are NOT playable character traits! #standagainstthestand https://t.co/wUZ9QAUAol

— a full adult (@jo_herself) December 17, 2020

The letter explains:

The selection of the hearing actor to portray Nick Andros in The Stand is not acceptable. The character, Nick Andros is Deaf and signs. Not one Deaf professional actor was called in to audition for the role.

Critics believe it was a slap in the face:

The decision was made without respect to and for Deaf professionals, union, and non-union alike.

Misrepresentation on the screen & inequality in employment opportunity must be stopped – join and take the stand with us. #StandAgainstTheStand #TheStand pic.twitter.com/2kfUWpunIo

— Andrew Morrill (@andmorrill) December 17, 2020

Per the letter, a deaf role requires an actor with the same psyche:

There was no acknowledgement given to the psyche of a Deaf character; being Deaf is more than just not hearing.

The call-to-arms condemns the misrepresentation of it all:

At the time of diversity and inclusion, this cycle of misrepresentation and unequal or non-existent employment opportunities for Deaf professionals in the entertainment industry, both in front of and behind the camera, must end. This has been happening for decades.

As noted by The Daily Wire, the letter states its signees will boycott the show until the casting’s reversed.

And they’ll be spreading the word to other deaf people and a network of nearly half a billion:

We will share our displeasure of the casting decision and airing of the miniseries on CBS All Access with our Deaf community, signing community, friends, and family of Deaf individuals; together we make up 466 million worldwide.

Across the industry, deaf creatives are ready for their seat at the table:

It is time for industry professionals to create opportunities for Deaf talent to work on the set, in front of, and behind the camera, in the writing rooms, sit on creative teams when there is a Deaf character involved in the storyline. Our voice is a sign of the times.

On social media, one user nodded to The Stand actress Whoopi Goldberg with love, but said he won’t be watching:

I love you @WhoopiGoldberg, but I am joining my Deaf film and theatre colleagues in solidarity. I will not be endorsing, watching, or supporting The Stand on @CBSAllAccess. #StandAgainsttheStand pic.twitter.com/HCFJNgCK3G

— JR Nexus Russ (@AWayofLife0) December 17, 2020

The movement’s getting some UK affection, too:

We, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing creative sector in the UK, support our American peers in rejecting a hearing actor being cast to play a Deaf role in Stephen King's 'The Stand'. It is time this stopped.
Read our statement & join us in solidarity.#StandAgainstTheStand pic.twitter.com/yAsWzdjgND

— Jean St Clair (@MsJeanStClair) December 19, 2020

One tweeter insisted, “There’s absolutely no excuse for not hiring a Deaf actor to play a Deaf character.”

There's absolutely no excuse for not hiring a Deaf actor to play a Deaf character. #Standagainstthestand pic.twitter.com/CPGwVXjzZh

— Ansley O'Irish (@ansleyirish1024) December 17, 2020

Another wrote, “I want to see deaf people playing deaf people on the screen because I can tell INSTANTLY that the acting/signing is not authentic. Hearing people think hearing people acting as deaf people is great representation while it leaves us out in the cold.”

i disagree with you. I want to see deaf people playing deaf people on the screen because I can tell INSTANTLY that the acting/signing is not authentic. hearing people think hearing people acting as deaf people is great representation while it leaves us out in the cold.

— Liam Coleman (@theljcoleman) December 18, 2020

That same person slammed actors for co-opting identities:

“It is not ‘being an actor’ to co-opt identities! can you laugh/cry on command? cool. can you learn 10 years of ASL & pretend to be deaf while w perfectly functioning ears and eyes that have never known how to look further than what’s in front of them? NO.”

it is not “being an actor” to co-opt identities! can you laugh/cry on command? cool. can you learn 10 years of ASL & pretend to be deaf while w perfectly functioning ears and eyes that have never known how to look further than what’s in front of them? NO.

— Liam Coleman (@theljcoleman) December 18, 2020

Of course, not everyone’s on board with the boycott:

Next we need to cast real people with the real plague

— LegacyMediaisCCP (@cactusmama37) December 19, 2020

Did they cast a demon?

— A Clockwork Orange Man Bad (@davilch) December 19, 2020

DIE (diversity inclusion and equity) for Zombies

— LegacyMediaisCCP (@cactusmama37) December 19, 2020

SWAT just cast a dead person to play a shooting victim.

— Sheer Lunacy (@ItIsWhatItIs567) December 19, 2020

One naysayer got down to the long and short of it:

Oh my gosh, will this ever end? These people are setting impossible to follow standards. Where does this end? Does every actor have to be the exact height and have the same penis length as the one that they are supposed to be portraying?

— JT (@JT65864880) December 19, 2020

Not long ago, there was something called “acting.” Professionals appeared on the silver screen with fake names, fake accents, and fake problems, pretending to be from places they weren’t, faking skills they lacked, and behaving as if they knew things they didn’t. They played disabled people (Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump), blind people (Jamie Foxx in Ray), and — yes — deaf (Patty Duke in The Miracle Worker).

But times have changed. These days, if you want a hearing-impaired character onscreen, it seems, you’d better hire Helen Keller.

#Bulletproof.

Oh, wait —

The "woke mob" was slammed for saying deaf and blind activist Helen Keller was a “privileged white person” in a recent Time magazine article. https://t.co/JKQbbismwP

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 17, 2020

-ALEX

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