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Disability advocates protest ‘Tropic Thunder’ premiere

By Patrick Luce Aug 12, 2008, 12:06 GMT

Comedy where five actors who go on location and find themselves relying on their boot camp experiences when they get stuck in a real war-like situation. ...more

Monday night’s Westwood premiere of “Tropic Thunder” was protested by several disability advocates upset over the film’s use of the word retard.

Variety reports dozens of protestors chanted "Ban the movie, ban the word" and marched with signs with "R-word = hate speech" written on them. They also handed out flyers that urged people to boycott the film.

“Tropic Thunder” features Ben Stiller as an actor who became a star through his role as a mentally challenged man in the fake drama "Simple Jack." The DreamWorks film has received lots of heat in the past weeks over the scenes and use of the word by Robert Downey Jr. – who in the film encourages Stiller’s character to "Never go full retard."

Westwood premiere organizers have said the protest didn’t affect the red-carpet event, but security was reportedly more visible. The film also didn’t have a premiere after-party – which is the normal custom for a big summer film.

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AnthonyAug 13th, 2008 - 23:08:10

Hahaha

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Educate YourselfNov 20th, 2008 - 19:59:45

Your the retard for being so judgemental and ingorant. You don't even know these people protesting most aren't the one's fiddling with cellphones in the theatre, that limited to inconsiderate individuals who don't care about anyone but themselves. The people protesting are individuals with diabilities and who are sick of the entertainment industry portraying these discriminating stereotypes, contributing to the continuation of their discrimination. Just for afew cheap laughs from uneducated people!

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