Former Coronation Street star Melissa Johns has slammed producers of The Witches remake for portraying the disabled community as “monsters”.
The actress, who played Imogen Pascoe on the ITV soap in 2017, was left infuriated by the remake of the Roald Dahl classic as she believes the film “used disability to highlight a character as a baddie”.
Melissa, who is a campaigner for disability on screen and stage, shared her thoughts on Twitter as she watched the new take on the 1990’s film at home.
The star, 30, aired her complaints alongside a snap of Anne Hathaway who played the Grand High Witch in the film.
In response, she wrote: “Why missing fingers?? Here we go again…
“Using disability as a costume and to highlight a character as a ‘baddie’.
“Children with limb differences rarely get to see themselves represented truthfully. But instead get shown as scary monsters? Not what we need #TheWitches.”
Some of Melissa’s fans agreed as they left comments under her tweet after noticing she was concerned by the portrayal.
“I can’t remember if in the book the witches had missing fingers but I do remember they were bald and wore wigs,” one shared.
Others said: “Are you suggesting that we change the story? Shall we do that with all books to films?”
“Melissa is suggesting that maybe disability shouldn’t be used as a thing to scare and segregate.
“It’s a fairly basic principle to grasp. In doing this, children who don’t have 10 fingers may now be deeply affected. They could also become subject of name-calling.”
The actress later replied: “If we see people with disabilities/differences playing ALL the other parts too – the hero, the lover, the clown, the business person, the agent, then yeah, they can play ‘baddies’ too.
“But when it’s just used as a villain indicator. There’s the problem.”
Mirror Online has contacted WarnerBros for comment.