Lupita Nyong’o has responded to the backlash she has faced after revealing the inspiration for her character in Us.
While promoting the Jordan Peele-directed horror film – in which she stars in the lead role of Adelaide, and her dopplegänger Red – Lupita has repeatedly said she based her character’s voice on the condition spasmodic dysphonia.
She told Variety on the subject: “[Spasmodic dysphonia] is a condition that comes about from a trauma, sometimes emotional, sometimes physical, and it creates this spasming in your vocal cords that leads to an irregular flow of air.”
However, her comments have attracted controversy, particularly from the National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association (NSDA) and the nonprofit group RespectAbility, who have suggested that she is “connecting disabilities to characters who are evil”, thus “further marginalising people with disabilities”.
The NSDA said: “One of the toughest parts of having a disability is that people make assumptions based on the way you walk, talk or act, sometimes with little understanding of what is causing it.
“We understand that hearing the unique sound caused by symptoms of spasmodic dysphonia was the spark of inspiration for the voice of this character. What is difficult for us, and for the thousands of people living with spasmodic dysphonia, is this association to their voice with what might be considered haunting.”
Lupita has now apologised during an interview on The View, saying: “In my processes as an actor, one of the things I look to do is to find ways into the most human and most real parts of the camera, and to steer clear of a judgement of them as good or evil, pleasant or creepy.
“I understand that it’s a very marginal group of people who suffer from this, and so the thought that I would in a way offend them was not my intention.”
While working on Us, Lupita worked with a vocal coach and met with people who have spasmodic dysphonia, insisting: “I wasn’t interested in vilifying or demonising the condition.
“I crafted Red with love and care. So as much as it is in a very genre-specific world, I really wanted to ground her in something that felt real. I say sorry to anyone that I may have offended.”
Controversy aside, Us has proved to be another box office hit for Jordan Peele, following his Oscar-winning directorial debut Get Out.