Stan Authentic Representation (Ableism in Sebastian Stan’s Career)

Seeing trailers/clips of and talks for A Different Man made me realize Sebastian Stan has played disabled characters multiple times in his career. So I want to talk about it.

Marvel and A Different Man are the only things I’m talking about this article because those are the only things I know of where he plays a character with a disability that he does not have.

Talking about him in Marvel, I first want to acknowledge that I know very little about Marvel in general. I do know that his character has PTSD and has a prosthetic arm.

I have no idea if Sebastian has PTSD and it’s none of my business.

Sebastian does not have a prosthetic arm. Bucky Barnes (Sebastian’s Marvel character) is disabled. Sebastian plays a character with a disability he does not - and cannot - currently understand.

In reference to A Different Man, I haven’t seen it, but I know enough to know the casting is ableist.

Sebastian plays a man with Neurofibromatosis who gets surgery or something to look nondisabled.

I know Sebastian was casted by a disabled/disfigured man (writer and director of the film Aaron Schimberg). And I know Sebastian stars alongside someone who actually has Neurofibromatosis (Adam Pearson). Neither of these things, though, make me believe it’s okay for someone without a certain disability to play a character with that disability.

I understand there are disabled people who want to and do actually go through a procedure(s), so write about someone that DID go through that. If possible, get someone to tell their story and show photos and/or videos.

I fully believe Aaron and Adam should - and honestly do - know there are other human beings with Neurofibromatosis and should’ve advocated for one of those other human beings to star alongside Adam. Sebastian - anyone without that disability - didn’t have to play that character in the film.

Overall, Sebastian Stan has played characters with whom he does not share a disability multiple. And it’s not okay. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it as many times as it takes for actors and directors and writers to understand, IT IS NOT OKAY FOR SOMEONE WITHOUT A DISABILITY TO PLAY A CHARACTER WITH A DISABILITY. Casting an able-bodied or nondisabled as a not able-bodied or a disabled character is exclusion. It’s ableist.

Disabled people deserve to be shown on screen. We deserve it to be taught and known that we exist and we’re equal.