It’s OK to Laugh with the Paralympics’ TikTok Account, Guys

It appears people are puzzled by the rather playful approach of the Paralympics’ official TikTok page.

The verified account has been around for years, garnering both interest and controversy along the way. One notable video from last year uses audio from the electronic toy Bop It! during a montage of blind swimmers getting tapped on the head with foam-tipped poles. This practice is explained as a technique to notify swimmers of their proximity to the wall.

Another video from 2023 features Australian cyclist Darren Hicks, who lost his right leg in a crash, winning a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 time trial. The accompanying audio is a popular TikTok song where only the word “left” is audible.

This TikTok video was shared by Barstool Sports on X (formerly Twitter) in April, with a caption many found offensive: “Paralympics TikTok admin is CRAZY.” Consequently, numerous X users criticized the account, calling it “disrespectful,” “evil,” and “gross,” while others accused it of using “ableism for views.”

This backlash is somewhat understandable. Society often teaches us not to laugh at disabled people but rather to view them as strong, resilient, and inspiring figures. These deeply ingrained stereotypes, however, can be detrimental, as they often hold disabled individuals back.

Additionally, should the Paralympics’ TikTok page focus more on “inspiring stories” akin to what we see for Olympic athletes, it risks being seen as “inspiration porn.” Such portrayals can objectify disabled individuals, making non-disabled viewers feel good merely because they are not disabled.

These concerns don’t align with the current theme of the Paris Paralympic Games, which emphasizes that, despite living in a so-called inclusive society, many disabled individuals still feel misunderstood and overlooked.

Did you even know that blind swimmers have to be tapped on the head to avoid crashing into the wall before watching the TikTok? These are the complexities the official Paralympics TikTok account, run by disabled people and former Paralympians, attempts to navigate. They aim to engage viewers, invite questions, and encourage laughter alongside them, not at them.

Richard Fox, the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) digital media coordinator and a former Paralympian, revealed to Adweek in 2023 that the intention behind their TikTok account is far from pandering to inspiration porn.

“I wanted to showcase people with disabilities doing sport, but in a different way to how it’s been done previously,” Fox elaborated. “By using viral sounds and trends, that’s how we’re doing that.”

Fox also mentioned that the account seeks to inform its audience. He spends up to an hour after posting each TikTok monitoring comments and answering questions about the videos or Paralympic sports in general.

Using social media trends and memes to create a specific atmosphere is quite smart. For instance, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign team received praise and support for using social media to bring joy to the 2024 presidential election. So why does this approach work for a political campaign but gets criticized in the context of sports for disabled individuals?

One reason could be that disability remains widely misunderstood.

A spokesperson from the IPC told NPR last year that most backlash comes from non-disabled individuals who are unaware that the account is managed by Fox, “a Paralympian who fully understands disability.”

“We have created a strong following through edgy and unique content that allows us to educate an audience who might be less aware of Paralympic sport and the achievements of our athletes,” the spokesperson said. “We appreciate that not everyone will like the content, but we closely monitor posts, converse with followers, and learn from all feedback.”

Many Paralympians support the account, believing it can help raise awareness and normalize their differences.

“I love it. I love it all. I love any type of coverage that sparks discussion,” said Steve Serio, opening ceremony flag bearer and wheelchair basketball captain, to USA Today. “We as athletes, Team USA, we want all the smoke both on and off the court.”

Other athletes featured on the account hold similar views. “I don’t feel like they are mocking me, rather just using a song which uses the word left, and I happen to be pedaling with only my left leg,” Hicks told NBC News.

André Ramos, a boccia bronze medalist, said, “making fun with our handicaps is a sign that we accept ourselves as we are.” Para surfer Liv Stone appreciates that the account isn’t “pushing awareness … in your face.” Meanwhile, wheelchair basketball player Jess Whyte told the BBC, “if we’re going to celebrate the great things, we can also laugh at the funny things.”

However, not every disabled athlete is a fan. Sean Jackson, who plays for the England Amputee Football Association, criticized the account’s content for mocking athletes and turning them into memes.

Regardless of personal opinions about the account, perhaps there is wisdom in what six-time Paralympic gold medalist Brad Snyder told CNN last year when featured in one of the TikToks. Snyder embraced the humor and was hopeful it would lead to better understanding and accommodations for disabled individuals.

Source: Associated Press, NBC News, NPR, USA Today