“Me Before You” is the latest Hollywood film to grossly misrepresent the lived experience of the majority of disabled people. In the film, a young man becomes disabled, falls in love with his ‘carer’ and they have an incredible 6 months together. Despite her opposition, however, the hero does the “honorable” thing by killing himself at a Swiss euthanasia clinic – leaving his fortune to her so she can move on and he is no longer a “burden” to her. Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, “Me Before You” is little more than a disability snuff film, giving audiences the message that if you’re a disabled person, you’re better off dead.
WAYS YOU CAN PROTEST:
- Two or more people can peacefully hand out a LEAFLET (National: Black & White or Color; for California protesters, version with an added sentence about the assisted suicide law going into effect on June 9th: California flyer)
- Display a “Me Before You” protest banner which can be made at local print shops
- Send a press release (you can use NDY’s template release, including local contacts) to send to your local media.
- Twitter using #MeBeforeYou #LiveBoldly #MeBeforeEuthanasia #MeBeforeAbleism
Banner description: The left side of the banner is a color photo from the ads for the film, including the lead actress in a red dress, sitting on the lap of the lead actor in the film who is slightly reclined in a wheelchair, and they are looking at each other lovingly. To the right of the photo are the words, “Me Before You is not a romance. It is a disability snuff movie, giving audiences the message that if you’re a disabled person, you’re better off dead. #LiveBoldly? We already do! #MeBeforeEuthanasia” Centered at the bottom of the banner is the logo of Not Dead Yet, The Resistance.