Is there ableist language or behavior?

Browse movies, tv shows, books and more with ableist language or behavior.
This category refers to use of slurs, demeaning language, or abuse of neurodiverse and disabled people. This includes using "autistic" as an insult. This category is important because mocking disabled people or comparing their conditions to being bad is an ableist trope found in many forms of media that feed into a stereotypical narrative.
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Movie • 2019 Report
Yes
325
No
11
58
EmmaWard55
One character dismisses the suicide note of a young bipolar woman as 'attention seeking' and no big deal. They are very critical and lack empathy for this woman, making her suffering into calculated ploys for drama.
Movie • 2018 Report
Yes
180
No
5
44
GwendolynCox
One of the children shown has social issues. In a classroom scene, the teacher pushes her to finish her test in a way that could draw negative attention to this. Later, the mother yells at her, saying, "are you some kind of idiot," for displaying the same behavior. The same character's art is also called the r word
TV Show • 2016 Report
Yes
164
No
9
11
CozmoGarden
there are multiple uses of the ableist slur "ps*cho", and ableism towards a woman alleged to be schizophrenic
TV Show • 2019 Report
Yes
148
No
12
30
melsmadness22
In season two there is a character who appears to have a disability. His father constantly mistreats him and tries to have him committed to a treatment facility.
Yes
142
No
2
43
teaz
there is a character who is an ableist stereotype of people with DID. her alter is extremely murderous, even having "genocide" in her name.
TV Show • 2021 Report
Yes
137
No
4
30
Syno
A very old man with a brain tumor and health problems gets picked on, and is rarely picked for teams in the games. But some characters make sure he isn’t left out.
Movie • 2022 Report
Yes
136
No
5
24
people throw around phrases like "headcase" etc.
Movie • 2004 Report
Yes
129
No
2
27
Rg123
Regina uses the R word to describe an unfortunate event.
TV Show • 2019 Report
Yes
127
No
4
21
annie.wolfe
in the first episode there is an autism joke and the r word is used
Movie • 2021 Report
Yes
122
No
0
47
meganf3000
This whole movie is ableist because it perpetuates the fact that autistic people are broken or need to be cured. The main autistic character is played by a neurotypical actress, there are scenes infantilising Music and physically restraining her during meltdown. Sia also partnered with an autistic hate group to make this movie (Autism Speaks).
1
Movie • 2017 Report
Yes
119
No
1
18
heliogemini
as the kids look into the sewer for the first time, Eddy says the r slur in an attempt to get his friends to think going in the sewers isn't smart.
Movie • 2022 Report
Yes
117
No
24
39
One character says “dyslexic ass” as an insult.
Movie • 2000 Report
Yes
107
No
4
10
mooper
Look at the title of the movie.
TV Show • 2008 Report
Yes
105
No
1
15
MonaLoignon
The r-slur is used casually and repeatedly throughout the show
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
103
No
0
34
takver
Toph's parents restrict her freedom and treat her like she is helpless, because she is blind. The show makes it very clear that they are wrong.
TV Show • 2014 Report
Yes
98
No
2
15
Anonymous
S4E2 and S4E11: A character in the 1940's suffers suicidal depression after losing her son and is lobotomized due to her "hysteria;" said lobotomy is used to threaten her daughter into repressing her own emotions.
Video Game • 2017 Report
Yes
95
No
3
25
oumasorbit
a character calls others ‘t*rds multiple times, and idk if this counts, but they also ask if another character was “dropped on her head as a kid”
TV Show • 2011 Report
Yes
95
No
1
13
MartinGardner
Lots of dwarf jokes for one
Movie • 2019 Report
Yes
95
No
0
30
ghostofpunk
Jojo suffers a slight limp and scarring from a grenade accident. He and others refer to him as 'horribly disfigured' and such.
TV Show Report
Yes
93
No
2
23
cherry
“cr-pple” is used in self reference by a physically disabled character, and he alludes to facing prejudice.
2
Book Report
Yes
93
No
0
21
Boop
The character in a wheelchair is constantly made fun of for it by the character who put him in it.
Video Game • 2020 Report
Yes
93
No
11
27
asunder
A main character is called a psychopath for carrying a knife.
TV Show • 2021 Report
Yes
88
No
2
22
cielgee
A wheelchair user is called “roller girl”, and the discussion of the “miracle” of her suddenly being able to walk again could be triggering for some.
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
84
No
5
10
Memebird
Yes. Michael says the R-word quite a bit in s3e1 "Gay Witch Hunt"
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
84
No
9
23
Eldritchsquared
Sort of - Abby, Mike’s younger sister, is claimed to be “mentally ill” because she doesn’t interact with other kids her age, and speaks to what are assumed to be imaginary friends.
Movie • 2004 Report
Yes
83
No
13
17
huviks
Jigsaw doesn't have a very high view of people he believes are weak, even when that weakness is rooted in mental illness or addiction, etc.
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
83
No
6
11
jensenc18
The portrayal of autistic characters in the show, including Dr. Dixon in season 5, is often offensive and ableist. A main character is also interested in “curing” autism in season 11. Throughout the seasons, Autism Speaks signs show up around the hospital.
TV Show • 2019 Report
Yes
82
No
2
16
ElleONeill
episode 3 ****SPOILER AHEAD**** shows the physically disabled character being "cured" of her physical disability, changing into a "beautiful" physically abled character.
TV Show • 1997 Report
Yes
82
No
2
10
Anonymous
R****d and its variants get thrown around a lot and one episode has a disabled character defend his right to say it. Same with "cr*ppled." Though there are disabled characters who exist outside of being jokes like Jimmy and Nathan, a lot of jokes are made at their expense. Generally a lot of casual ableism that's to be expected if you know how South Park operates.
TV Show • 2013 Report
Yes
81
No
9
13
Rev
The show reflects the time of setting and of creation and uses terms like psychopath, sociopath, and psychotic. It is unclear if it is meant in an ableist way or not, but it is something to be aware of in that the demonization of mental illness and personality disorders is unfortunately a big part of the show
3