‘Wicked’ Star Marissa Bode Speaks Out Against Disability Jokes: ‘Gross & Harmful’

“Wicked” actor Marissa Bode is calling out disability jokes made by people online aimed at her character Nessarose in the film. Over the weekend, Bode, 24, shared a five-minute TikTok video speaking out against the hurtful comments circulating online. “Aggressive comments of wanting to cause harm and push Nessa out of her wheelchair, or that she deserves her disability are two very gross and harmful comments that real disabled people, including myself, have heard before,” Bode said. The actress explained that while it’s acceptable to not like her fictional character, it is not acceptable to make harmful comments about her disability as “disability is not fictional.” Bode made history in the box office hit as the first actor who authentically uses a wheelchair to depict the role of Elphaba’s sister.