Marissa Bode calls out trolls over 'deeply uncomfortable' jokes about her disability: 'Low hanging fruit'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Marissa Bode has a lot to say to the trolls and harassers who keep showering her with negative comments because of her disability.

Despite proving her worth and starring as the first wheelchair bound person in the ’Wicked’ legacy, there are many who judge her as well as her movie character, Nessarose.

Replying to trolls, the 24-year-old actress shared a TikTok video, which was re-posted by X account Pop Crave, in which she reportedly said, "Aggressive comments and jokes about Nessa’s disability itself is deeply uncomfortable because disability is not fictional.”

“At the end of the day, me, Marissa is the person that is still disabled and in a wheelchair and so it is simply a low-hanging fruit that too many of you are comfortable taking,” she stated.

Marissa Bode says negative comments about her disability ‘do not exist in a vacuum’

Marissa Bode reportedly lost her legs when she was only 11 during an accident, making her unable to walk again.

About the negativity, she claimed, “This goes so far beyond me, Marissa, just needing to ignore comments on the internet. These comments do not exist in a vacuum.”

The young star also mentioned that “aggressive comments of wanting to cause harm and push Nessa out of her wheelchair or that she deserves her disability are two very gross and harmful comments that real disabled people including myself have heard before.”

Marissa Bode feels ‘grateful’ to work in 'Wicked'

However, Bode is also grateful for good people, who understand and support her.

In an interview with PEOPLE, she spoke highly about the ‘Wicked’ crew. The Hollywood newcomer was even provided with a disability coordinator named Chantelle Nassari on set.

She shared, “Sometimes it is hard to always be vulnerable [on camera]. And when you’re surrounded by so many people on a set, it can be difficult if you’re focusing too much on outside elements to really have that [vulnerability] as the character.”

“I know there's a way to make, maybe not everything, but a hell of a lot of things accessible if you really want to, and if you really actually ask the right questions to disabled people,” Bode added.

Besides, in another interview, Bode expressed, as per USA Today, that she feels “so grateful to be on a project as big as ‘Wicked', because I’m really looking forward to what the future brings. I would love to work with more disabled actors in general.”

Giving advice to other people with disabilities, she asserted, “Advocate for yourself. You’re not annoying asking for accommodations. Don’t feel like anything is your fault just because you’re out here trying to exist. There is never anything wrong with you – your disability isn’t a bad thing.”