Comedian Rosie Jones said that a plastic wine bottle was thrown at her and a friend in an ableist and homophobic attack on a train.
The writer and actress, 35, who has ataxic cerebral palsy, which affects movement and co-ordination, said that the perpetrators “shouted slurs” and mocked the voices of her and comedian Lee Peart.
Peart said that the pair were “attacked by ableist and homophobic arseholes” in a video posted to his Instagram story where he showed splatters of wine by where they were sitting on the train.
In the video, Jones said that they had thrown wine at her and added: “What a f****** waste.”
Today (Monday 6 October), Jones posted a message to social media to celebrate World Cerebral Palsy Day and said: “Today was going to be about me celebrating all that is good and brilliant about having CP.
“But on the train home from our gig last night, me and my good pal Lee were victims of ableism and homophobia. They mocked our voices, shouted slurs at us and even threw a wine bottle (plastic, thankfully).
“It was a stark reminder that my CP makes me stand out and is often used as a weapon against me. Unfortunately, the worms of this world use my disability to try to make me feel like a victim. I am not.
“People with cerebral palsy should never be made to feel like guests in an unwelcoming and hostile world which wasn’t set up for people like us.
“We have just as much of a right to be here as anybody else. And don’t forget it.”
In a follow up post, Peart said: “Thank you for your lovely lovely messages we are both doing fine and yes we have reported it.
“The BTP (British Transport Police) took us home and were wonderful. Rosie Jones is a wonderful human.”
In 2023, Jones explored the prevalence of disability trolling in the UK in a Channel 4 documentary that received criticism for its title – Rosie Jones: Am I A R*tard?
She completed the London Marathon last year in a buggy pushed by fellow comedian Ivo Graham to raise money for Up – The Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement and the MS Society.
The BTP said: “Officers were called to East Croydon railway station at around 10.30pm yesterday (Sunday 5 October) following reports of a group of people abusing and assaulting other passengers on a train from Brighton to Victoria.
“Inquiries are ongoing and anyone who witnessed anything or has any information is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 405040, quoting reference 672 of 5 October.”
Leave Rosie and her Friend Alone
Brilliant Actress ( in Casualty) & Comedian.
Seriously, what’s wrong with people?
Hope they get caught and justice takes its path
Is there any wonder – disability has now become a word in which our glorious Prime Minister and cabinet ministers have been punching down?
We are being erased from protection and services, along with other minority groups.
The total absence of the word disability in our local by-election, which just happened in Queens Park, is a prime example.
The increase in polarisation in our country is unprecedented, and along with this, an increase in attacks like this, which again, are setting record highs.
Let us hope that this post proves me wrong and that many more people will come and express their despair and outrage at what is happening in today’s society.
Why do cowards make life difficult for people who just want to get on? They could only wish to be as successful as Rosie and Lee. I hope the people who commited this assault get arrested and charged for what they’ve done.
Why wasn’t there a Guard on board the train, who would have controlled the doors instead of the driver since DOO was introduced, and made sure that the BTP attended and those involved detained.
Could it be that GTR, and the DfT prioritise cost above passenger safety and security?
“We’re with you” – except we aren’t!
“See it, Say It, Sorted” – except it isn’t!
Awful treatment to any woman, let alone with a disability. She’s a wonderful funny entertaining comedian. So many bitter men, the way she is trolled as well on social media is despicable.
These men should be real men and not bullies
What a class act, though – her reaction is to make a joke out of wasting wine.
Fairly standard Brighton to London weekend train then. It’s always on a knife-edge.