Nyle Marco: ‘What Foxx did on Fallon made our struggle that much harder’

Model and advocate Nyle DiMarco is standing up for the deaf community, after two celebrities pretended to use sign language on a late-night TV show. 

The incident occurred Friday during “The Tonight Show,” when Jamie Foxx used pretend sign language with host Jimmy Fallon.

DiMarco, the “America’s Top Model” and “Dancing with the Stars” winner, was quick to respond on Twitter.

“It is straight up disrespectful to make up sign language,” he wrote. “Everything is in gibberish.”

.@iamjamiefoxx, It is straight up disrespectful to make up sign language.

Everything is in gibberish. pic.twitter.com/X5AHkusq3o

— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) May 27, 2017

DiMarco also questioned Jimmy Fallon and The Tonight Show, asking how this was allowed to be on air.

Also- @jimmyfallon @FallonTonight how was this allowed?

Where's the cultural sensitivity. Not comedy when you make fun of others.

— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) May 27, 2017

That wasn’t the end of the discussion for DiMarco. He continued to explain why it was inappropriate for Foxx and Fallon to use gibberish sign language as a joke. DiMarco tweeted a longer response.

“We simply do not make fun at the expense of other cultures, especially those with a history of being marginalized,” he wrote. “When we do this, progress takes a step backwards… What Foxx did on Fallon Tonight made our struggle that much harder.”

My response to Jamie Foxx making up sign language on Fallon Tonight with @jimmyfallon. pic.twitter.com/GpDN8iB9xL

— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) May 27, 2017

Actress and activist Marlee Matlin also joined in the conversation with a response to Jamie Foxx.“I’d be happy to give you sign language lessons so you could be funnier,” she wrote.

Mr. @iamjamiefoxx. I’d be happy to give you sign language lessons so you could be funnier. https://t.co/FwaRsKovrg

— Marlee Matlin (@MarleeMatlin) May 26, 2017

Read more: How to learn sign language

Will Foxx follow the footsteps of Chris Pratt and take the time to apologize in proper sign language to the community he offended? We will see if he puts out a response.

Read more: After apology, Chris Pratt has a lesson for Instagram

• Author Details

Author Details

Kirsten Brackett

Kirsten is the managing editor of Hearing Like Me. She has a moderate hearing loss and currently wears Phonak Audéo B-R rechargeable hearing aids. Outside of working for Hearing Like Me, she can be found exploring new cities, trying out new recipes in her kitchen, or hiking. She loves learning about different cultures and languages.