Alopecia charity calls for more understanding after Oscars joke incident
Alopecia UK said it did not condone violence in any form
A charity supporting people suffering from alopecia has condemned the use of a joke at the expense of Will Smith's wife.
In a statement, Alopecia UK said it does not condone any violence whatsoever, but also said the joke aimed at Jada Pinkett-Smith was in poor taste.
Chris Rock, who delivered the joke during the awards ceremony broadcast live, was left in shock after Mr Smith slapped the comedian.
The audience was left baffled after initially believing the incident to be a skit, which went on to overshadow the rest of the show.
A statement from Alopecia UK
In the statement, CEO of Alopecia UK, Sue Schilling said that the charity "does not condone violence in any form".
"Dealing with unwelcome remarks and being the butt of jokes is sadly an all too real part of having alopecia. This just adds to the distress and challenges faced by people with alopecia.
The statement went on: "In a world where it’s unacceptable to make jokes about someone’s race, sexuality or disability, we believe the same should apply to jokes about visible difference. Such remarks or jokes should be called out as unacceptable or inappropriate.
"At Alopecia UK, we understand the difficult emotions that people affected by alopecia may feel, including loved ones of people with the condition. Alopecia UK is here to support anyone affected by any type of alopecia."
What is alopecia?
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that can result in partial or total loss of hair, both on the head and the body.
Typically, people who suffer from alopecia lose hair at a much faster rate than those who lose hair over a gradual space of time.
Depending on the person, hair can be lost in patches or lost entirely, with some people able to grow their hair back only for the process to start again.
There are different forms of alopecia, with the most common type being alopecia areata, but also includes male pattern baldness.
In the UK, there are roughly 100,000 people currently suffering from alopecia and its various types.
Prominent people in the UK living with the disorder include Gail Porter, a model whose picture was projected onto the side of the Houses of Parliament.
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