Arts & Entertainment
Nyle DiMarco slams Netflix film for deaf joke
The actor and model also blasts movie for homophobic and transphobic jokes
Actor and model Nyle DiMarco blasted Netflix’s new film “Sierra Burgess Is a Loser” for making fun of deaf people.
In the film, Sierra Burgess (Shannon Purser) starts catfishing Jamey (Noah Centineo) after popular girl Veronica (Kristine Froseth) gives him a fake phone number. During one scene, Sierra and her friend Dan (RJ Cyler) run into Jamey and his brother at the park. Sierra doesn’t want Jamey to recognize her voice so she pretends to be deaf. Jamey reveals that his brother is deaf and Sierra has to pretend to understand ASL.
DiMarco, who is deaf, took to Twitter to slam the film for using deafness as a joke.
“So one of my close friends’ deaf brother is in Sierra Burgess When I learned, I was elated. Finally more deaf actors/representation & ASL inclusion in films … Only to find out the deaf character was written and used for a terrible joke. PS- pretending to be deaf is NOT ok,” DiMarco tweeted.
He also called out the film for using homophobic and transphobic jokes.
“There were homophobic and transphobic jokes as well,” DiMarco continued. “It is extremely easy to make jokes about marginalized/disfranchised groups … but that makes you a lazy writer. And honestly you shouldn’t make these jokes AT ALL because our lives are on the line.”
So one of my close friends’ deaf brother is in Sierra Burgess
When I learned, I was elated. Finally more deaf actors/representation & ASL inclusion in films
… Only to find out the deaf character was written and used for a terrible joke.
PS- pretending to be deaf is NOT ok.
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) September 9, 2018
It is extremely easy to make jokes about marginalized/disfranchised groups
… but that makes you a lazy writer.
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) September 9, 2018
And honestly you shouldn’t make these jokes AT ALL because our lives are on the line.
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) September 9, 2018
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The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.
A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.
The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.
The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
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