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The HBO Max animated series Velma—an adult animated mystery horror comedy series based on the character Velma Dinkley from the Scooby-Doo franchise—faced public backlash for equating sickle cell disease (SCD) with "rudeness."
In the series' first episode, the character Fred Jones makes an excuse for not having remembered Velma's name, saying he has a disease "where [he] can't recognize people who aren't hot" and his doctor "says it's basically sickle cell for rich people."
After Velma—voiced by The Office star Mindy Kaling—quips the disease is called "rudeness," Fred confirms her suspicions.
You can see the moment below.
\u201cThoughts? Offensive? Bad joke? #sicklecell #Velma #HBOMax\u201d— Sickle Cell 101 (@Sickle Cell 101) 1675034625
SCD is a group of blood disorders that are typically inherited. The most common type is known as sickle cell anaemia. It results in an abnormality in the oxygen-carrying protein haemoglobin found in red blood cells, which leads to a rigid, sickle-like shape under certain circumstances.
A number of health problems may develop, such as attacks of pain (known as a sickle cell crisis), anemia, swelling in the hands and feet, bacterial infections and stroke. Long-term pain may develop as people get older and the average life expectancy in the developed world is 40 to 60 years.
Approximately 70,000 to 100,000 Americans have SCD though about 80 percent of sickle cell disease cases are believed to occur in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In the United States, there are stigmas surrounding SCD that discourage people with SCD from receiving necessary care. These stigmas mainly affect people of African American and Latin American ancestries, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
Studies have shown that those with SCD frequently feel as though they must keep their diagnosis a secret to avoid discrimination in the workplace and also among peers in relationships.
Naturally, the show's insensitive joke has angered many people.
\u201cThis makes absolutely no sense, and to associate sickle cell to \u201crudeness\u201d is extremely harmful. Sickle cell patients are disproportionately impacted by racism and bias due to the majority of us in the US being Black, and this definitely isn\u2019t helping the issue. \n\ncc: .@hbomax!\u201d— Andr\u00e9 Marcel Harris, MSW (@Andr\u00e9 Marcel Harris, MSW) 1675005542
\u201cI tried to give Velma a chance, but I didn\u2019t know how to take the sickle cell joke so I stopped there \ud83e\udd37\ud83c\udffe\u200d\u2640\ufe0f\n\nIt was pointless and def not funny\u201d— Courtsideview (@Courtsideview) 1675047318
\u201cI don\u2019t even get the joke. Why was this even used. #SickleCell isn't funny. #sicklecellmatters #warriors\n#may5foundation #sicklecellawareness #Velma https://t.co/HrYIg4FaY6\u201d— May5Foundation (@May5Foundation) 1675210771
\u201cJesus Christ. @ElvisTheAlienTV showed me more than I've seen of #Velma. This is the humor they think is funny. https://t.co/jKhxewABPR\u201d— Welcome to Jessica Dwyer 4 Real (@Welcome to Jessica Dwyer 4 Real) 1675130525
\u201cFrom a SCD Warrior who will not stand for someone who thinks they can casually joke about Sickle Cell Disease in any forum, it which this was presented. \u201cVelma\u201d cartoon series, you are wrong. And we need you to apologize. \n#VelmaSeriesSickleCellDiseaseIsNotAJoke\u201d— Shyra Arring (@Shyra Arring) 1675204629
\u201cSince the producers and writers of #Velma think Sickle Cell Disease is a joke. SCD occurs among about 1 out of every 365 Black or African-American births. #SCDisNotaJoke @hbomax @mindykaling\u201d— KBOP \ud83d\udd4a\ufe0f\ud83d\udc99 (@KBOP \ud83d\udd4a\ufe0f\ud83d\udc99) 1675205560
\u201cAlready I\u2019m triggered by #Velma because wtf is \u201csickle cell for rich guys\u201d?\u201d— Jessica Albutt (@Jessica Albutt) 1673992880
\u201cThe joke about Sickle Cell on E1 of Velma on @hbomax was unnecessary and misinforming to the world and insensitive to the sickle cell community. #SickleCell #Velma #HBOMax\u201d— Sickle cell Africa (@Sickle cell Africa) 1675078434
Audience reception to Velma has been overwhelmingly negative, receiving low scores on imdB and Rotten Tomatoes, where it has earned a 42 percent rating based on 33 reviews.
Representatives for HBO Max and Kaling have not responded to requests for comment on the controversy.