here are my thoughts on matthew saying the r slur as a neurodivergent person:

ive actually made this thread before but don't particularly like some of my wording and the topic has come up again, so i decided to remake it.

first, let's talk about terminalogy and the r slur +

itself. neurodivergent simply means "one whose neurological development and state are atypical." (neurodivergent people can struggle with sociability, learning, attention, mood and other mental functions.) the r slur has been used against neurodivergent people for a long time +

to put us down and make us feel lesser. it has also been given a negative connotation and used as the equivalent to words such as dumb or stupid.

matthew has used the r slur in interviews multiple times (the most common video of him saying it is for a movie interview). it +

hurts to hear him say a word that had brought my community down for years. it feels like a slap to the face. and, sadly, it was a very common word for people to use then. many people have said it, not knowing that it was even offensive. thankfully, people have began advocating +

against the use of the word since then.

since those interviews with the use of the word, matthew has shown change. he has gone to events that urge people to stop using the word and has worked with a school for the mentally and physically disabled. he has shown great growth +

from those interviews, and that's why i forgive him.

i, PERSONALLY, don't think he had any ill intent using the word. he shouldnt have said it, but his actions have shown me and others that he didn't mean to harm anyone. i DO still think he should apologize because despite +

whatever his intentions were, what he said hurt people.

also, if you're not neurodivergent, please don't speak over us. i know your heart is in the right place, but many of you have been overstepping on this topic.