Dwarf wrestlers criticise charity over tour ban

Protests by the Restricted Growth Association end in two events cancelled and a surprise backlash

A ROW has broken out after a charity succeeded in banning “freak show” dwarf wrestling events.

At least two shows in a planned UK tour by The Dwarfanators, from Texas, have been cancelled after protests from the Restricted Growth Association (RGA), a British charity.

Performers protested that they will lose two weeks’ earnings if the tour is cancelled and called the RGA “rude”. A local politician backed the wrestlers, arguing they would will lose money.

James Lusted, an actor and county councillor in Rhos-on-sea, North Wales, who has dwarfism, said he was “really frustrated” at the cancellation.

“If they want to wrestle then let them crack on. If you don’t agree with it don’t go,” he told BBC Radio Wales. “That’s how they’ve chosen to live, that’s how they’ve chosen to support their families, pay their bills. Why don’t we just encourage and support them in that? These professional entertainers are well trained and fit but they’re actually going to lose finances now.”

The events in Leicester and Ferndown, near Bournemouth, were pulled by the venues after the criticism. But Mr Luster said planned shows in Cardiff and Swansea should go ahead.

Gillian Martin, from the RGA, said: “We remain resolute in our belief that such events encourage audiences to laugh at people with dwarfism.”

She said the shows included elements that “encouraged violence in real life”, such as picking up and throwing people with dwarfism.

In 2011, Martin Henderson was left paralysed after a man threw him into the air outside a pub in Somerset.

She has also criticised the company for using the term “midget”. She said: “It has strong historical associations with the Freak Shows of days gone by at which people with dwarfism were paraded and ridiculed. It is widely considered to be deeply offensive to most people in the dwarfism community.”

A spokesman for the show said that in the USA, the term Midget Wrestling was perceived with pride by those who took part in the sport.

“However, in the UK the term is seen as degrading, so it was not used in the posters or marketing here,” he said.

Many performers had left the US, investing time, money and in some cases, their life savings to come to the UK.

Ashley Waterhouse, a performer, said not working for two weeks would “hurt me, bad”, adding: “nothing about it is a freak show”. Lorenzo Jordan said: “This is a choice, and I love to do it.”

Michael Stone said: “We’re working, providing for our families. We’re just trying to have fun and do our jobs.”

Michael Colitti said: “I am deeply upset. I was under the impression the UK had moved away from the Victorian pitchfork mentality, waiting at castle gates saying people like me are not welcome around these parts.”