Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Actor With Dwarfism Calls Out Hugh Grant's Casting As Oompa Loompa In 'Wonka'

Actor With Dwarfism Calls Out Hugh Grant's Casting As Oompa Loompa In 'Wonka'
James Manning/PA Images via Getty Images; coppen1412/Instagram

George Coppen told the BBC that actors with dwarfism 'are being pushed out of the industry we love.'

George Coppen, a British actor with dwarfism, is calling out the casting of Hugh Grant in Wonka, the new musical prequel of 1971's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory starring Timothée Chalamet.

Grant plays one of the Oompa Loompas in the new film, which were played by actors with dwarfism in the original film and in the 2005 remake starring Johnny Depp.


In a post on his Instagram account, Coppen called out the makers of Wonka for casting Grant, saying the casting was taking work away from actors with dwarfism.

Coppen appeared in Netflix's The School for Good and Evil and Disney's Willow and Artemis Fowl.

Coppen wrote in his Instagram post:

"So I was watching the new Wonka trailer and I thought it looked pretty good until the very end where Hugh Grant appears as an oompa loompa. Why?"
"In the previous two films all the oompa loompas have been played by dwarves but this time round they have decided to take work away from us."

Coppen also spoke to the BBC about the matter, telling them Grant's casting is an example of the multiple ways actors with dwarfism feel they are being marginalized by the entertainment industry"

“A lot of actors [with dwarfism] feel like we are being pushed out of the industry we love."
"A lot of people, myself included, argue that dwarfs should be offered everyday roles in dramas and soaps, but we aren’t getting offered those roles."
"One door is being closed but they have forgotten to open the next one.”

On social media, Coppen's comments caused a lot of debate, as many felt that Grant was cast specifically not to further marginalize those with dwarfism.



But others firmly agreed with Coppen that Grant's casting is inappropriate.



Coppen also mentioned actor Peter Dinklage, who has spoken out against the upcoming live-action remake of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, both for its depictions of people with dwarfism and for casting them to play the titular dwarfs.

Coppen criticized Dinklage's take, saying his urging of actors with dwarfism to demand better roles leaves them "stuck in the middle unable to do anything" unless they are in Dinklage's privileged position to be able to "afford to turn down work."

More from Trending

Kid Rock
Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Kid Rock Dragged After Donning A Truly Over-The-Top Outfit For His White House Visit

Singer Kid Rock was slammed for wearing a loud patriotic costume inside the Oval Office as Republican President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday against ticket scalping.

The rocker's outfit consisted of a red, white, and blue jacket emblazoned with two eagles facing each other above the American flag with the number 250, a nod to America's upcoming 250th anniversary, and white stars on his sleeves.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Bill Cassidy
CNBC

MAGA Senator Just Said The Quiet Part Out Loud With Epic Freudian Slip About Medicare

Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy was widely mocked following his inconvenient slip of the tongue during a CNBC interview as he mused about finding ways to "cut" Medicare before quickly correcting himself.

The exchange occurred after host Rebecca Quick pressed Louisiana Republican and former physician Bill Cassidy on how his party intended to fund the “trillion-dollar tax cuts” sought by President Donald Trump.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Tim Sheehy
CNN

GOP Senator Gets Blunt Reality Check After Comparing Trump Tariff 'Pain' To Home Renovation

Montana Republican Senator Tim Sheehy was criticized after he tried to compare the "short-term pain" of President Donald Trump's tariffs to home renovation, a claim so ridiculous that CNN's Kaitlan Collins quickly pushed back on the analogy.

Trump has repeatedly referred to April 2 as “Liberation Day,” pledging to impose tariffs—taxes on imports—to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign goods. He has framed these tariffs as “reciprocal,” aiming to match the duties other nations place on American exports.

Keep ReadingShow less
Susan Crawford; Elon Musk
Scott Olson/Getty Images (left and right)

Liberal Wisconsin Judge Calls Out Elon Musk In Victory Speech—And It's Everything

Liberal judge Susan Crawford called out billionaire Elon Musk in her victory speech after winning a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, basking in successfully beating her Republican opponent Brad Schimel and ensuring that the nonpartisan court’s narrow 4-3 liberal majority remains intact despite Musk's efforts to sway the race.

Musk fueled the high-stakes race, having poured more than $20 million into supporting Schimel, according to state campaign records. That includes $3 million to the state Republican Party—$2 million of which was donated just last week. Due to state election laws, large contributions must be funneled through political parties before reaching candidates.

Keep ReadingShow less

People Describe The Worst 'Bonus' They've Ever Gotten At Work

Most of us have worked at one problematic workplace, with reasons ranging from toxic coworkers to terrible bosses to unlivable pay. Sometimes, it feels like a joke that the employees are even being paid at all!

But the biggest joke of all might be the end-of-year bonus, or lack thereof. They're at times so laughable, they take the cake for horrible work conditions, or are quite literally, a slice of cake.

Keep ReadingShow less