A celebrity using the spotlight to condemn negative behavior instead of acting out? What a novel idea! Props to Peter Dinklage for doing just that at last night’s Golden Globes.
During his acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor on “Game of Thrones,” Dinklage gave a shout-out to a fellow performer injured in an attack inspired by dwarf-tossing.
"I want to mention a gentleman I'm thinking about in England," he said. "His name is Martin Henderson. Google him."
And people did. Instantly, his name became a tending topic on the search engine, bringing awareness to his cause.
So who is Martin Henderson? He is an aspiring British actor who, like Dinklage, has dwarfism. Unlike Dinklage, Henderson’s not getting many acting jobs because he is now wheelchair-bound, according to the Telegraph.
During his birthday celebration last year, a random attacker picked him up and dropped him on the ground from three feet in the air. Henderson suffered damage to the nerves in his spine, which partially paralyzed his legs. This has made walking difficult for him and, since the incident, he's broken his wrist after falling.
"People's attitudes to me when I go out can be pretty cruel. Most are OK but you get the odd idiot who will make fun and start laughing at me,” Henderson told the Telegraph. "You just have to ignore it but this is the first time I have been picked up and thrown about."
Henderson told the paper he believes his attacker was imitating former British rugby star (and husband of Princess Zara Phillips) Mike Tindall, who allegedly attended a dwarf-tossing event in New Zealand after a match. Tindall was kicked off the team for his behavior, but Henderson’s attacker still hasn’t been found.
"I think he should be caught because of what I've gone through,” Henderson told the BBC. “I wouldn't want to wish it on anyone."
After spending time in a hospital, Henderson finally filed an assault claim and police have launched an investigation into his case.
Join the conversation...