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Adam Pearson responded to a comedian mocking his appearance, highlighting the harm of ableist jokes
The actor, who has neurofibromatosis, emphasized the importance of respect and dignity for people with disabilities
Neurofibromatosis affects about 100,000 people in the U.S. and can cause painful tumors and facial disfigurement
British actor Adam Pearson is clapping back at those who make fun of his appearance.
On Thursday, March 19, the A Different Man star posted on X and responded to a comedian who mocked his looks. The 41-year-old actor lives with facial disfigurement from a rare genetic condition called neurofibromatosis.
“Me and the boys after taking Chinese Peptides for 5 years,” the critic wrote alongside a photo of Pearson from the Oscars red carpet.
“I was today years old when I learned that taking Peptides for 5 years made you an Academy member, award winning actor and Oscars attendee!” Pearson responded. “You can tell a lot about a person’s character by looking at who they’re willing to punch down towards – even in the name of comedy.”
Several other social media users commented that the actor should “learn how to take a joke.”
Pearson replied, “I took it and I responded. Freedom of Speech works both ways snowflake.” He later told another person, “Ideally I’d like to not have my disability mocked but I guess that’s too much to ask eh? I guess we should all ‘suck it up’ and ‘move on.’”
Adam Pearson
Credit: Dave Benett/Getty
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The star also messaged another critic who wrote that he shouldn’t be “treated differently because of a disability.”
“You think asking for respect and dignity (i.e. not being mocked for a disability) is being ‘treated differently’? Well that’s certainly an interesting take,” he said.
“I’m not thrilled about ableism. Nor do I think anyone should be,” he later commented.
Pearson was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, a rare genetic condition that leaves his skin covered in thousands of thick, painful tumors.
Neurofibromatosis 1 affects about 100,000 people throughout the United States, and only a few million in the world, Dr. Kaleb Yohay, the director of NYU Langone’s Comprehensive Neurofibromatosis Center, previously told PEOPLE. Patients can get the disorder from their parents or a random genetic mutation.
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