Twitter Is Fuming Over The Way ‘Ninja Warrior’ Treated A Deaf Contestant

Australian Ninja Warrior is the surprise hit of 2017, with the thrilling obstacle-course show still racking up massive viewing numbers. However, tonight’s show may have lost them a few fans, after deaf cricketer Paul Cashion was disqualified on a technicality with absolutely heartbreaking results. 

Before his run, he’d told viewers that he wanted to be an inspiration to other people like him:

Unfortunately, the show runners didn’t seem to take into account Cashion’s particular impairment. 

On the first obstacle, his trainer slipped into the water – an automatic disqualification. However, Cashion didn’t – couldn’t – hear the buzzer that sounded to let him know he’d missed his shot. 

What followed was a horrified crowd sitting in total, pin-drop silence, as Cashion proceeded to the next part of the course, not knowing that he was out of the competition. 

It was only when his step-son caught his attention, signing a translation of what the refs were saying, that the cricketer realised that he’d been disqualified. He looked absolutely crestfallen, and the entire crowd looked close to tears.

It wasn’t just the crowd who were devvoed, either. Viewers on Twitter were quick to voice their displeasure with a ruling they considered to be extremely unfair. 

They literally just used someone’s disability to push the show, and then go and embarrass him like that. Absolutely fucked. #NinjaWarriorAU

— Tahlia. (@bvlmabriefs) July 16, 2017

Channel 9 are going to go out and kick a puppy now … after kicking out the deaf guy for a technicality. #ninjawarriorau

— Daveo (@inflammatorydev) July 16, 2017

#NinjaWarriorAU you cruel bastards, should’ve given the poor deaf bloke another chance ??????

— Nikerl Vernitely (@Nooie_Noo) July 16, 2017

That was the saddest thing I’ve seen, high expectations with his family watching and a shaky start, give Paul another another go please 🙂

— Colleen (@ColleenRussell2) July 16, 2017

The clear issue is they production company did not have clear communication in place for the contestant, & they should have #NinjaWarriorAU

— Brian MacNamara (@BMac_TLDR) July 16, 2017

Tune in tomorrow where you can watch Channel 9 executives kick the cane from a blind competitors hand … #deafgate #ninjawarriorau

— Daveo (@inflammatorydev) July 16, 2017

Hearing impaired competitor shows why it’s important to have inclusive initiatives in public spaces. Shame on @Channel9. #NinjaWarriorAU

— Al Ross (@sheepwrangler) July 16, 2017

his face when he realised was heartbreaking, hope they have something better in place if another hearing impaired person enters!

— Tayla Richter (@tayla_richter) July 16, 2017

Worse television moment I’ve seen for some time. Your producers humiliated him. Why not edit the part out where his step-son had 2explain?

— Natalie (@PAFC_NSWMember) July 16, 2017

Why didn’t you make the notification for disqualification hearing impaired friendly?

— ?????? (@tehAlz) July 16, 2017

As many have rightly pointed out, not making an adjustment to the signals to accommodate Cashion’s hearing impairment is a classic example of unwitting ableism. Hopefully this’ll change the way Ninja Warrior does things from here on out; it’s just such a damn shame that all our hearts had to be broken first.