As They are not bad mania builds, new fandom rises, and that’s not always a source of positivity. With They are not bad loyal Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and protective Glinda (Ariana Grande), it’s very fun and safe to make fun of the conflicts within the film as long as it stays with the character and not the real character.
Erivo and Grande star Marissa Bode has so far taken her character—future Wicked Witch of the East and Nessarose-ascended Emperor Thropp—in stride. Her role as Elphaba’s sister is important to the setting of the witches; her shiny shoes becoming the center of drama as we enter The Wicked Part Twowhich will introduce a little girl named Dorothy Gale if the film follows the rhythms of L. Frank Baum The Wizard of Oz source material. We’ve talked about how Nessa is a villain to watch out for thanks to Bode’s amazing performance, but some people are taking their hatred for the character too far.
On TikTok reported by Deadline, the actor shared his recent brushes with abuse centered around his disability; like his character, Bode uses a wheelchair. “It’s okay not to like a fictional character,” Bode said. “I’ll be admitting my bias in how I have different feelings about Nessa than most of you do, and that’s okay. I think Nessa is complicated, but that’s the beauty of art. They are not bad and these characters and the movie wouldn’t be what it was if there weren’t different opinions about the characters and who is really bad or not. And not liking Nessa herself is fine. Because he’s a legend, that’s right.”
He went on to say that “disability is not a myth,” and described the attack on the character as “aggressive” and “very uncomfortable” when it comes to Nessa’s disability.
“At the end of the day, I, Marissa, am still disabled and in a wheelchair. So, it’s a low-hanging fruit that many of you are free to take,” said Bode. “This is beyond me, Marissa, I just need to ignore the comments on the internet. This comment does not exist in a vacuum. The cruel words of wanting to hurt and push Nessa in her wheelchair, or that she deserves her disability, are two of the worst and most hurtful words that real disabled people, including myself, have ever heard before.”
They are not bad it’s in the theater now; Wicked Part Two it arrives in November 2025.
Looking for more io9 news? Check out when you can expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe in film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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