Sickle Cell Disease is a global problem afflicting millions. But this summer, in a callous disregard for those suffering, NBCUniversal studios used Sickle Cell Disease as a laugh line.
In the movie TED 2 an animated teddy bear called Ted, given voice by Seth MacFarlane, and a guy called John, played by Mark Wahlberg, roll around on the floor of a sperm bank. They’re covered in “rejected” sperm donations from men with Sickle Cell Disease. Ted says John is covered in “black guy sperm.” Cue the laugh line, collect the box office receipts. Except it’s not funny.
In America this genetic disorder shows up in 1 out of every 500 African American births and one in every 36,000 Hispanic American births.
Sickle Cell Disease is a chronic inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. Sickle cell can block the flow of blood through vessels resulting in lung tissue damage, horrible pain episodes in the arms, legs, chest and abdomen, stroke, damage to organs and even death. Contrary to the implication of the TED 2 movie, Sickle Cell Disease is not limited to people of African descent. The disease occurs in people from Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey as well as countries in the Caribbean, Middle East and Asia.
There is currently no universal cure for Sickle Cell Disease. Advocates and families are working tirelessly to raise awareness, support and research funds to find treatments and a cure. Meanwhile, by propagating myths and misconceptions about Sickle Cell Disease, NBCUniversal has increased the difficulty we face of meeting this public health challenge.
There was a time in America when people made fun of cancer, a time when people with cancer were discriminated against. There was a time when people made fun of AIDS and there were even serious calls to quarantine people with AIDS. We as a nation know better now. But somehow NBCUniversal missed the history lesson.
NBCUniversal owes a public apology to the Sickle Cell community. As a matter of corporate responsibility, NBCUniversal must join us to take positive steps for those families struggling with Sickle Cell Disease.
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