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Mimi Launder
Mar 15, 2018
Stephen Hawking, widely regarded as one of the greatest minds to have ever lived, has died at the age of 76.
Everyone from prime ministers to professors, astronauts to actors, are paying tribute to the theoretical physicist, celebrating his brilliance, resilience and the countless triumphs of his remarkable life.
Wonder Woman actor Gal Gadot shared her own eulogy to Hawking, claiming that he is now "free of any physical restraints".
Rest in peace Dr. Hawking. Now you're free of any physical constraints.. Your brilliance and wisdom will be cherish… https://t.co/5ZqdZrimvv— Gal Gadot (@Gal Gadot) 1521035383
Many people on Twitter are saying Gadot's tweet is ableist, a term to describe discrimination or prejudice against people who are disabled.
Hawking lived with significant disabilities caused by motor neurone disease (MND), which required him to use a wheelchair and a speech synthesiser.
@GalGadot I think you’re fantastic Gal but this tweet is very ableist. His physical constraints didn’t stop him fro… https://t.co/vmWKpzxBmx— Zimmy (@Zimmy) 1521037684
@DesignAnas @GalGadot Stop what? One would never say someone is freed by death from being a certain race, or gender… https://t.co/nEFQOHrX1F— Zimmy (@Zimmy) 1521038848
@TheBloodyHounds @GalGadot No, I understood her point perfectly. And I don’t believe there was any maliciousness in… https://t.co/YKZ8rEsekT— Zimmy (@Zimmy) 1521075412
@GalGadot Gal I am chronically ill. Can't shower or even get myself out of bed. Lost 18 years thus far. But I ran a… https://t.co/tI0zPMXLnE— amara campbell (@amara campbell) 1521038493
Critics of the tweet say that, for Hawking, death was a far greater physical constraint than his disability.
Hawking toldThe Guardianin 2011:
I have lived with the prospect of an early death for the last 49 years. I’m not afraid of death, but I’m in no hurry to die. I have so much I want to do first.
I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.
The actor is not the only one to insinuate that Hawking is now 'free' from his wheelchair. Some cartoons paying tribute show him standing up, as if only now finally able to truly explore the universe.
Seeing folks say that Stephen Hawking is free of his disability is gross. It is also A direct result of ableism and… https://t.co/3SSVCXYuWw— Keah Brown (@Keah Brown) 1521033927
If some of you talk about me the way you are talking about Stephen Hawking when I die I shall come back to haunt yo… https://t.co/2WN1qsvxWV— Shona (@Shona) 1521019650
Pro-tip to journalists: Stephen Hawking *used* a wheelchair. He is the active person in the arrangement. The wheel… https://t.co/kme7JnwRcW— Alexandra Erin (she/her) (@Alexandra Erin (she/her)) 1521000775
The odds weren't against a disabled person achieving what Stephen Hawking did. They were against ANYONE achieving… https://t.co/04D6xW3RUv— Diana Crow (@Diana Crow) 1521036375
Others defended Gadot's tweet.
I don't see this as ableism hmmm 🤔 https://t.co/VUiB0bI0CF— ricky⁷ (@ricky⁷) 1521115549
@GalGadot This world is way too politically correct! It's a beautiful tweet, Gal. If we choose to argue about ever… https://t.co/5zGCiyVzFq— Dorian Louis (@Dorian Louis) 1521078333
@GalGadot Classy Tribute to a man who broke the mold. Proved everyone wrong in so many ways. #legend— Lawrence Fairweather (@Lawrence Fairweather) 1521057217
Chris James, Director of External Affairs at the Motor Neurone Disease Association said:
Professor Stephen Hawking had an extraordinary life and was able to continue his research throughout his illness. He achieved so much in his lifetime and never allowed himself to be defined by motor neurone disease (MND). His approach to life with MND is an example to all of us.
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