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Comedian Rosie Jones responds to online abuse after recent TV appearances

Jones, who has cerebral palsy, says she is inundated with abuse each time she appears on TV

Jabed Ahmed
Friday 16 February 2024 11:26 EST
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Rosie Jones tells Matt Hancock to 'stop ignoring disabled people'

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Comedian Rosie Jones has opened up about her experiences with online trolls, admitting that sheā€™s had to develop a thick skin.

Jones, who has cerebral palsy, says she is inundated with abuse every time she appears on TV, and has been a vocal campaigner against ableism.

In a new interview with The Guardian, she said: ā€œIā€™d be lying if I said it didnā€™t upset me, but luckily I am surrounded by such a strong network of brilliant friends, family, colleagues who support me. 

ā€œDo I need a thick skin? Yes, I bloody do. But Iā€™m able to switch it off, I donā€™t look at social media when Iā€™m on TV and I focus on the positives.ā€

Jones recalled how people ā€“ particularly those with disabilities ā€“ often approach her to thank her for ā€œmaking us feel seen and worthy and validā€.

The comedian began in the television industry through a trainee programme established to help underrepresented people get into the industry. Jones was a TV researcher before she became a comic.

ā€œThat was so important to me because I know how hard it is to start in the television industry when youā€™ve got a disability,ā€ she added.

Jones: ā€˜Do I need a thick skin? Yes, I bloody doā€™
Jones: ā€˜Do I need a thick skin? Yes, I bloody doā€™ (Channel 4)

Jones also praised the TV producers she is working with on her new panel show, Out of Order, for ensuring the set was ā€œfully accessibleā€, but called for further awareness and inclusion across the industry.

ā€œI spend a lot of my time and energy fitting into a non-disabled world, and over time that is so exhausting,ā€ she said.

In July last year, Jones released a one-off programme for Channel 4, the controversially titled Am I a R*****?, which delved into her experiences of ableist abuse. 

Addressing the title at the time, Jones said that she had chosen it in order to reclaim the slur that had been ā€œused as a weapon towards me all my lifeā€.

ā€œI need to say, first and foremost: it was my choice, my idea,ā€ she said. ā€œI really wanted to take control of it and say, ā€˜This is not OKā€™...

ā€œI understand that some people may be offended, or will be very upset by it, but at the same time, it is unfortunately still a word that has been used every day towards me.ā€

Out of Order premieres on 26 February on Comedy Central.

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