The stand-up and actress has cerebral palsy
Comedian and actress Rosie Jones has responded to the online ableist abuse that she received following her appearance on BBC One’s Question Time on Thursday (October 7).
The 31-year-old stand-up and regular on hit comedy shows like The Last Leg and 8 Out Of 10 Cats appeared as part of the programme’s panel earlier this week but received abuse from online viewers after the show had aired, reports the BBC.
Taking to Twitter, Jones said: “The sad thing is that I’m not surprised at the ableist abuse I’ve received. It’s indicative of the country we live in right now.
“I will keep on speaking up, in my wonderful voice, for what I believe in.”
The sad thing is that I’m not surprised at the ableist abuse I’ve received tonight regarding my appearance on Question Time. It’s indicative of the country we live in right now. I will keep on speaking up, in my wonderful voice, for what I believe in.
— Rosie Jones (@josierones) October 8, 2021
On Friday (October 9), Jones continued to discuss the issue during an appearance on ITV’s Loose Women, confirming that the abuse has only led her to be more resilient and determined in fighting back.
“A lot of my job is going on stage and telling silly jokes about my boobies,” she told Loose Women viewers.
“So actually to be given a platform where I can speak more seriously about what it’s like to be disabled and gay and a woman in this country right now, it feels like such a powerful opportunity.”
She continued, adding: “Unfortunately after my appearance last night I got a lot of abuse online about how I look and about how I sound and about my disability, and actually that makes me more determined to speak out for minorities because this country needs to be a better and more accepting place to live in.”
Jones has ataxic cerebral palsy and incorporates this into her stand-up routines. In 2017, she made her Edinburgh Fringe Festival debut with ‘Inspiration’ – a show looking at her experience attending the 2016 Summer Paralympics through a comedic lens.
Rosie Jones will be touring the UK in late October and throughout November.
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