Last night, Peter Dinklage took home the Golden Globe for his performance on “Game of Thrones.” Dinklage, a dwarf who stands at 4 feet and five inches, thanked the regular people during his speech. But at the end, he asked the audience to Google Martin Henderson and walked off stage.
Dinklage said:
“I want to mention a gentleman I’m thinking about in England. Martin Henderson. Google him.”
Dinklage was referring to Martin Henderson, a British dwarf who recently lost the ability to walk thanks to some drunken dwarf tossing. The Daily Mail reports that Henderson was celebrating his birthday with some friends when an anonymous man picked him up outside the bar and threw him. Henderson damaged his spine in the dwarf tossing incident and can no longer walk without assistance.
Henderson recalled the incident, telling Deadspin:
“From what I remember, there was only one person involved but it was very scary as I didn’t know what was going on. I guess I was an easy target and the only reason I was picked on was because I am small. 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. You just have to ignore it but this is the first time I have been picked up and thrown about.”
Police believe that the incident involving Martin Henderson was inspired by a group of rugby players from England that were caught dwarf tossing following a win against Argentina.
But not all dwarfs are against dwarf tossing. In Florida, Ritch Workman is working to lift a ban on dwarf tossing saying that it takes away job opportunities in Florida. Of course, unlike in the case of Martin Henderson, those dwarfs are allowing themselves to be tossed.
Do you think that dwarfs get treated unfairly? Do you think Peter Dinklage doing the right thing by bringing attention to the situation?
