Alec Baldwin’s Blind Character in New Film Denounced by Disability Group

In the upcoming drama Blind, due out July 14, Alec Baldwin stars as a visually impaired novelist who, after the fatal car crash that left him without his wife or his vision, begins to rediscover life and his writing. 

The Ruderman Family Foundation, an advocacy group for those with disabilities, has come out against the movie’s choice to cast Baldwin as blind man, saying on their Facebook page that they are disappointed with the casting, adding that the production is “once again overlooking the opportunity to cast actors with disabilities.”

Foundation chairman Jay Ruderman elaborated to the Los Angeles Times, saying: “We no longer find it acceptable for white actors to portray black characters. Disability as a costume needs to also become universally unacceptable.”

Blind is the latest Hollywood movie to be condemned by disability groups for a lack of disabled talent in stories about disability.

Recently, the Warner Bros. adaptation of the popular romance book Me Before You was called out by the disabled community for the casting of able-bodied actor Sam Claflin in the role of a quadriplegic. Moreover the movie received backlash for its ending, where Claflin’s character decided to seek assisted suicide rather than continue living with his disability. 

Blind was directed by Michael Mailer and also stars Demi Moore and Dylan McDermott.

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