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star-temeraire · 5 years ago

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As per my last tweet, this morning, I am binging the 4th season of @QueerEye . I will be live tweeting my reactions and thoughts to the second episode, “Disabled but Not Really.” Follow this thread for those reactions and thoughts!

Ok, this thought is about the first episode, which is not the above episode. There’s a strange shot of JVN hugging a girl in a wheelchair while the hero of the episode—Jonathan’s high school teacher—looks on. The voiceover to this shot is Karamo saying what a great person (1/2)

(2/2) Ms. Dooley is and how she said “it’s ok to be you.” This shot is strange because it, to borrow from Julie Passabte Elman, traffics in inspiration porn by tying Ms. Cooley’s actions to dis. That shot could’ve been of any student. Why did they choose a disabled student?

Ok, y’all. Here we go! “Disabled But Not Really” is the second episode in QE S4. Before we begin, I’m a disabled and chronically ill, bisexual, white guy. I’ve been involved in local disability work but am a scholar of media and disability.

The hero of this episode, Wesley, is a disabled black man and wheelchair user. He runs a foundation called, “Disabled But not Really” which “focuses on fitness and nutrition that helps instill a physical limitless mindset” (1:04)

His mother says: “He doesn’t let that chair define who he is” (1:06). Wesley says: “I remember wanting to fit in, wanting to look like everyone else” (1:18). Wesley acquired his disability at age 24 after being shot. He was paralyzed.

*paralyzed from the waist down. “I remember just thinking [my legs] were worthless”; “I hated myself” (2:05). “I couldn’t be seen as a guy with a disability” (2:06). His mom: “I just wanted his life to be easy, for him to be independent and not have to rely on anyone” (2:25)

“My daughter, she used to say that it’s my ‘super man chair.’ So I’ve gotta be Superman” (2:38). Wesley works out 7 days a week and people tell him that he’s “still the same Wes” (3:00). He looks forward to growing as part of his QE journey.

Before we go further, this framing of disability isn’t all together surprising. As many ppl have pointed out in reacting to the trailer for QE S4, there’s a TON of internalized ableism going on. I think, also, there’s assumptions being made about what disability should be like.

I’m taking up this idea in my current academic work, but to be clear, I mean that ppl often make assumptions (ableist at that) about what dis bodies can do, look like, or be. Then certain realities (and fictions—see most books/TV, etc.) are created around these assumptions.

This will be the throughline in this episode, I think. We aren’t even three minutes in and the dominant narrative is “Disability is something that I’ve overcome, but other ppl still worry about it, so I try to fit into their narratives around disability”.

^This reels of QE branding/ messaging but, again, as others have already pointed out, to some degree this individual is also on this show to contribute to this narrative, too.

See what I mean by looking at the website for Wesley’s foundation: https://disabledbutnotreally.org . Ok, on with the show!

SPEAKING OF THE NAME OF THE FOUNDATION—JVN gives a hardy “YAS, YAS” when Bobby tells the Fab 5 what it’s called. (3:13)

Upon arriving at Wesley’s house, the Fab 5 notice that the ramp in front is damaged/ needs repair. Someone says “that can’t be safe” (3:55). We need some kind of Bill to grant dis ppl money to make changes to their homes for accessibility! @ewarren do you have a plan for that?

Karamo: “You look at Wesley and you start smiling. You’re like I want to smile too” (4:25). He IS talking genuinely about Wesley’s actual smile but it comes off weirdly given the context of this episode.

(4:27) Very interesting shot of Wesley rolling thru his house while Fab 5 trails behind him, looking a bit thrown off. I love it so much!

Antoni: “You know he can do pull-ups with his chair?” Karamo : “I can’t even do a pull up with out an extra 30 pounds” (4:42). *cool, cool, cool* more inspiration porn and supercrip talk!

Great scene of Wesley showing the Fab Five how he maneuvers in his space and uses tools—like a long grabber—to get the things he needs. Bobby: “Wesley doesn’t need anybody to do anything for him” (5:10).

I am most excited for Bobby’s transformation this week. Wesley deserves an accessible space! Likewise, I am least excited for Karamo’s transformation. Karamo has demonstrated on Twitter to not have great knowledge when it comes to dis issues

Next scene (6:14-6:51) contains interesting dialogue on food with Wesley. Antoni ,and Tan. Makes me think of how many dis ppl have different food needs and how our conversations around food are too often dichotomized into “healthy” and “not healthy”

Tan asks Wesley a great question at 7:20: “Is there anything that you think, ‘I can’t wear that,’ because it’s restrictive?” YAS TAN ASK ABOUT DIS NEEDS

(8:15) Wesley’s mom arrives and says “I just want things to be better for him so I don’t have to worry.” With my parents, I’ve seen this type of thinking too. For any able-bodied parents of dis children: is this the default position? (Very curious about this!)

(9:20) Woo, boy! Karamo takes Wesley’s mother, Dawn, outside to chat. There is a focus here on Dawn’s caregiving and the burden that it was for her. Karamo asks, “Has he ever said thank you?” WHAT YHE ACTUAL FUCK

This has me livid! Like—how could you even ask that? Dawn correctly replies “He doesn’t have to, it’s what I would’ve done anyway” (9:45).

Pretty much directly after this (10:20) we learn more about Wesley’s life pre-accident and disability. Thinking a lot about Christopher Bell‘s work in black disability studies during this conversation, as race, class, and SES come to the fore.

Um Karamo is asking Wesley to consider getting answers to why he was shot? (11:36) Woukdnt that mean revisiting that trauma and therefore, is not a great idea by any means?

Karamo says, “I see there’s been a lot of growth, but not a lot of healing.” Couching this request that way is pretty insidious and disingenuous to Wesley imo.

Ok, so Wesley and the Fab 5 are meeting to talk about goals for the week (12:26). Wesley says, “Wheb I say, ‘Disabled but not really,’ I’m proud to say it bc I’m living every part of that.” This is met with much enthusiasm from the group.

Showcasing and validating internalized ableism is so, so disappointing. Disabled ppl are also living! We have fulfilled lives! We do awesome things. Not excited for what comes next in this episode.

(13:00) Bobby: “His home was not built for somebody who uses a chair. I wanna make sure that Wesley’s entire home is comfortable and works for him.” This was actually surprising and great

(13:43) Karamo is back on his bs and has to call Wesley to ask him for consent to “get clarity about that night.” STAHP

(14:06) Bobby is quickly becoming the best part about this ep.! He goes w/Wesley into the city to “see what works for him.” Phys. accessibility is often the “easiest” to understand—I teach my students about accessibility in a similar manner using campus maps & building layouts.

There’s a great shot of Bobby pushing the automatic door opening button in the supermarket for Wesley. Too bad a lot of those don’t actually work how they are supposed to!

Bobby also says something about recognizing—for the first time—how inaccessible grocery stores are! I wonder if they’ll discuss how Wesley transports groceries? That’s my biggest problem, tbh.

After this trip, Bobby is committed to making an accessible kitchen. I’m the next scene, we see Antoni working with Wesley on his cooking (15:10-18:30). Accessible kitchen station is set up for Wesley so they can cook side by side.

Interesting exchange: Antoni: “Were you passionate about food before your accident at all?” Wesley: “This chair empowered me in ways that I was empowered walking” .... Antoni then makes comment about trauma being a good force for change.

(19:01) Bobby: “I wanted to make sure that in every aspect of Wesley’s he, he had complete and full independence.” Slowly becoming a Bobby stan over here.

(19:11) Tan and Wesley go shopping, and park in an accessible van space. Tan: “I’m gonna let you let you back up.” Wesley: “You said you were gonna push me?” T: “Do you want me to push you?” W: laughs.

This was played for laughs but I was cringing so hardcore. so many other dis ppl on here have talked about random ppl pushing them when they didn’t ask to be. It’s a huge problem and while this was funny, I want to acknowledge the realities of this occurring!

(20:17) Wes gets real about dis and dressing/clothes: “ what might take someone two or three minutes it might take me 10 or 15 minutes”. Tan just doesn’t reply to this, which is odd. Thought that would’ve been a good conversation for them to have.

(21:00) Tan: “Give md your best model roll.” This was fucking great.

Ok. WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS. At 22:00 , Tan and Wesley start a conversation about self confidence and influence. Wesley says, “I’ve never been around five gay guys, ever. But have you ever been around five ppl w/ dis?” Tan: “No.”

This is such a good, critical question. One in four people in the United States are disabled, so wouldn’t you think that more people would have more experience being around disabled folks? Super interesting to think about who we surround ourselves with!

(23:11) “ I teach people with disabilities that it’s OK to seek to be different and be comfortable within your own skin” -Wesley. This is interesting bc his foundation website uses vastly different language to describe the work that he does.

JVN (26:00) talks about how Wes overcame his “deck of cards” and has accepted who he is. This kind of talk has been my least fav thing about the episode. Y’all haven’t really asked him about his experience as a disabled person.

(27:12) Wesley and Karamo are on their way to meet up with someone who was there the night Wesley got shot. This is a pretty terrible idea but we’ll see where it goes I guess. Wesley does not look excited.

OH. Maurice is the man who SHOT Wesley. What the actual fuck Karamo?! Why would you put a hero in this situation?! I can’t actually comprehend this decision by the QE team.

This is a wild clusterfuck. There are too many awful things to unpack here. And I’m not the guy to do it. Pls someone more able to talk on these issues write a lengthy thread in this scene specifically!

Wes gets to his renovated house. Everything is gorgeous and accessible and yeah now I stan Bobby Berk.

Karamo now has his debriefing convo with Wesley and they discuss Wesley’s convo with Maurice as a great thing that happened. Yikes. They then pivot to Dawn and Karamo LITERALLY TELLS WES TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE CARE HE RECEIVED FROM HIS MOTHER

Karamo’s work during this whole episode has been so cringey. And really irresponsible. I wonder what dis ppl watching this episode will take away from Karamo’s exchanges with Wesley.

(38:00) Wesley again refers to himself as “Disabled but not really” and I, again, want to say that disable people are valid. I repeat: disabled people are valid.

(39:30) Wesley starts talking about how he “just wanted to adapt” and has finally come to terms with “being [himself]” after seeing how the Fab 5 live their lives. This is another instance of internalized ableism. It also doesn’t gel for me bc of the privilege of the Fab 5.

(39:40) The Fab 5 start their goodbyes. The general message: holy shit, we’re inspired by you, thank you so much for all you taught me! DISABLED BODIES ARE NOT YOUR INSPIRATION. Watch Stella Young’s Ted Talk JFC.

(40:50) Now the Fab 5 are watching Wesley at his reveal party. And Karamo literally says, “ who’s ready to watch one of our most inspirational heroes ever?” I can’t with this show. Y’all should have done research on disability and inspiration porn.

(41:45) Dawn (Wes’s mom) comes over to see the house. The camera starts to focus on her reactions to her son’s new home. Karamo sats, “You can see the release Mom is having.” No comments like these were made about Wes..

Wes has a whole apology/ thank you scene with his mom. The cameras cut away to show the Fab 5 crying over it. I really don’t know how to feel about this other than “ew”. This really is inspiration porn and meant for the able bodied gaze. (Shoutout to RGT!)

The reveal event is a party for Wesley’s foundation, “Disabled but Not Really.” Oof. There’s a lot to be unpacked here. What I will say: difference is important to recognize. It SHOULD be seen. However, difference needs to be validated, supported, and negotiated constantly.

This episode completely ignores that. So much so that it ends with the Fab 5 toasting to “Disabled but Not Really.”

Here are some final thoughts: This episode screamed performative allyship. There were so many opportunities to explore disability but they never did. Conversely, Wesley’s talk about dis was steeped in internalized ableism and I don’t see how that serves dis rep in media well.

@bobbyberk responded to my original tweet about featuring a disabled hero and I hope that all of the QE cast (@tanfrance @jvn @antoni @Karamo ) take the time to read this thread and the others that will come from other disabled ppl watching this show.

I hope the @QueerEye cast and production team learn from disabled ppl and educate themselves more on disability issues. I also hope that creators and media executives learn from this portrayal and look for stories about dis ppl that are not for the able bodied gaze.

So....that’s been my live-tweeting of QE S4 Ep 2. Feel free to message me, reply, etc. If you really enjoyed it, share it! Love, pizza, and doggos to you all

Can I ask everyone who’s watching Queer Eye (especially able bodied people) to please read this Twitter thread about episode 2? It perpetuated harmful and unfortunately very common stereotypes (I guess that’s the right word?) about disabled people, and promoted ableism:

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