A House of the Dragon actor has addressed fans who referred to his facial scar as a “deformity” and requested for them to use more considerate language.
In the seventh episode of Season 2, individuals who believe they are of Valyrian descent embark on a secret journey to Dragonstone in an act of bravery, hoping to form a connection with the two remaining dragons of the Blacks, Vermithor and Silverwing.
Despite everyone’s nerves, Silver Denys, portrayed by Robert Rhodes, bravely steps forward. However, his attempt is met with unfortunate consequences as Vermithor mercilessly burns him alive and proceeds to massacre the majority of the other aspiring dragonseeds.
After the episode was released, numerous fans have noted Rhodes’ facial scarring. One fan even commented, “That is his real face, which is marked by a birthmark.”
Just a quick one about correct use of Language when referring to scarring…Call it a scar or a difference, the word DEFORMED isn’t very pleasant and insinuates I am half formed/incorrectly formed, I’m not incorrect, just a bit different ☺️Big love ❤️❤️@FaceEquality pic.twitter.com/c7PvESEtCj
— Robert Rhodes (@RobertRhodes160) August 2, 2024
Rhodes addressed this issue on X/Twitter, encouraging individuals to thoughtfully consider the “proper use of language in regards to scarring.”
“Whether labeled as a scar or a distinction, the term DEFORMED carries negative connotations and suggests that I am imperfectly formed or somehow wrong. However, I am not incorrect, just unique,”he wrote.
Viewers have also praised Rhodes’ casting, with one person on Twitter noting that it could be the first time individuals with birthmarks or scars see a positive representation of themselves on screen.
“In response to a respectfully written post acknowledging the importance of speaking about someone’s appearance, one user commented to express gratitude and admiration, stating that they think the author is pretty cool.”
“Thank you for sharing your viewpoint! I completely agree with you that words hold great power, and the term ‘deformed’ can be hurtful. Let’s strive to use kind and empathetic language.”
Despite this, it is not the only example of body-shaming in the new season. In a previous episode, Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) is shown completely naked in a brothel, leading to numerous jokes about the actor’s appearance that were deemed as “disgusting”and “unamusing”and received widespread condemnation.
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