Members of the deaf community are protesting a hearing actor playing a Deaf character in the upcoming CBS All Access series, The Stand.According to The Hollywood Reporter, actors Antoinette Abbamonte (The New Normal, Curb Your Enthusiasm), James Caverly (Chicago Med, A Bennett Song Holiday), Dickie Hearts (Tales of the City, Grace & Frankie) and Andrew Morrill (Waiting for Godot, Alice in Wonderland), and director Jules Dameron (Reverse Polarity) are among the over 70 signatories that released a statement calling hearing actor Henry Zaga's portrayal of The Stand's Nick Andros, a deaf-mute character, "not acceptable."Jade Bryan, executive producer, creator, writer, activist and owner of #DeafTalent released the full statement on Twitter, which includes the hashtag #StandAgainsttheStand.
The letter begins by stating, "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; enough is enough!"
"We will not endorse, watch, or support your miniseries on CBS All Access. 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," the letter continues. " It goes on to say that "not one Deaf professional actor was called in to audition for the role" and "the decision was made without respect to and for Deaf professionals, union and non-union alike."
Starring James Marsden, Odessa Young, Jovan Adepo, Owen Teague, Greg Kinnear, Amber Heard, Henry Zaga, Nat Wolff, Brad William Henke, Irene Bedard, Whoopi Goldberg and Alexander Skarsgård, The Stand is now streaming on CBS All Access, with subsequent episodes premiering each Thursday.
Source:Â The Hollywood Reporter