Gal Gadot recently posted a tweet about Stephen Hawking’s passing (R.I.P.), meant to be uplifting and positive – but some on Twitter deemed it Ableist – a term to describe discrimination against the handicap. This generated some controversy – though it isn’t the most the actress has faced as of late. The tweet in question can be found below:
Rest in peace Dr. Hawking. Now you’re free of any physical constraints.. Your brilliance and wisdom will be cherished forever ✨ pic.twitter.com/EQzSxqNTuN
— Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) March 14, 2018
The reaction to that Tweet:
I think you’re fantastic Gal but this tweet is very ableist. His physical constraints didn’t stop him from changing the world. People with disabilities don’t wish for death to be free of their challenges. We wish to be valued for what we CAN do, not pitied for we can’t.
— Adam B. Zimmerman (@ABZimm) March 14, 2018
Gal I am chronically ill. Can’t shower or even get myself out of bed. Lost 18 years thus far. But I ran a charity funding research for my illness #ME and advocate for Change. All from my bed. Is my life not important? Disablement is not shameful, bigotry is. Watch @unrestfilm pls
— amara campbell (@amaracampbell) March 14, 2018
This is ableist. Without his wheelchair, he couldn’t move at all; his chair WAS freedom. Take this shit down and apologize, to him and all the other wheelchair users who are free BECAUSE OF THEIR CHAIRS.
— 15 Possible Girls (@prxttyaliens) March 16, 2018
I mean maybe, but gal is trash anyway so I’m not sweating it
— 15 Possible Girls (@prxttyaliens) March 17, 2018
Hawking was very critical of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, will you honour him by lobbying your government to stop terrorising Palestinian kids, oh wait you were an #IDF soldier yourself, do you regret having harmed Palestinians? Repent of your sins & follow G-d’s Covenant
— Nabil H (@inabster) March 16, 2018
She enjoyed to watch the 2014 Gaza bombing & invasion, sent supporting messages to the killers. She belongs to the society which exterminates the defenseless Palestinian folk, robs their properties, homes, land.
— Johann Spischak (@SDGMasterglass) March 16, 2018
I’ve seen so many sentiments like this and it’s really disheartening!!!! My wheelchair GAVE me freedom and that’s true for so many people with disabilities!!! #DisabilityPride
— Melissa Blake (@melissablake) March 19, 2018
“I have disabled friends who aren’t offended by this” is to ableists what “I have BLK friends who aren’t offended by the n-word” is to racists. The kneejerk ableist defensiveness in here would be hilarious were it not so dangerous. ✔ your able-bodied privilege. #dontBSyourself
— Sunn m’Cheaux (@sunnmcheaux) March 18, 2018
Yeah, free speech is so dangerous. The fact that people are offended because she spoke about being free from his physical constraints(which he has said he was) is so dangerous…
— No (@DeusExEverto) March 20, 2018
Death is not freedom from disability. Also Hawking did not believe in an afterlife.
— Becky (@beckyz0223) March 17, 2018
Death with be my freedom from my disabilities. Thanks for trying to speak for me and millions of others like me, but really just stop, you’re embarrassing yourself.
— Sara Russell (@Verchielle) March 17, 2018
Some showed support for Gadot:
You said, he’s free and wrote something nice about his accpomplishments. I’m not on here that often, but the way some people are reacting is ridiculous. People need to stop defending folks who aren’t under attack. My 2 cents.
— John Grace Sr. (@Father1st) March 17, 2018
I understand where this came from, I cannot understand the endless fountain of criticism against it, nitpicking and framing you as insensitive or something or other. pic.twitter.com/glZ2FcXlHA
— Albert S. Avila (@AlbertAvila22) March 16, 2018
I could not agree more. I have disabled children. I cannot believe how ridiculous people are being. I hope she does not delete this tweet. His existence was a daily struggle just to eat and breathe! Give me a break.
— Daniela Filmer (@danielafilmer) March 18, 2018
Have you ever wondered who is paying the thought police? There’s so many of them.
— Anne-Marie (@AmericanDrmr20) March 17, 2018
Nothing wrong with this tweet. The people complaining obviously have nothing going on in their lives
— Dante Hayter (@DanteHayter00) March 17, 2018
I think we can all agree that Stephen Hawking was a brilliant mind, and that most of us are still going to be watching Wonder Woman 2 when it hits theaters next year.