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Tom Holland praised for 'powerful' message on dyslexia after turning down SNL role
TL;DR
Tom Holland declined to host SNL due to his struggles with dyslexia, expressing fear about reading cue cards. His candid remarks have garnered praise for raising awareness about the condition.
Key points
- Tom Holland opened up about his dyslexia.
- He turned down hosting SNL due to reading fears.
- His comments have been praised for raising awareness.
- Dyslexia affects how the brain processes written words.
Mentioned in this story
Tom HollandSaturday Night Live
Actor Tom Holland has been praised for his "powerful" words after opening up about the impact dyslexia has had on him.
The Spider-Man star revealed he turned down presenting Saturday Night Live (SNL) because of the "concept of trying to read something and they [the words] change".
The US comedy sketch show features cue cards to guide hosts through their performances.
"They've asked me a few times to do it and the truth is that I'm just really scared," he said, adding he's "heavily dyslexic".
According to the NHS, dyslexia is a common learning difficulty where your brain works differently to most people.
It mainly affects things like reading, writing and using numbers. There is no cure but there are things you can do to help manage the condition.
"That kind of honesty really helps others feel seen and understood," says Kay Carter from The Dyslexia Association, adding, Holland's words are "powerful and genuinely brave".
James Taylor from equality charity Scope feels "it highlights the real challenges disabled people can face at work or in the spotlight".
Speaking on Amy Poehler's podcast Good Hang, the 30-year-old actor said he loves SNL and "the idea of having fun and making a fool of yourself in such a creative way".
"I'm just so petrified at the concept of trying to read something and they change."
Ashley Walker has lived with dyslexia her entire life and says Holland's comments make her "feel happy" because it "isn't spoken about enough".
"Especially by people who have it. We tend to try and not speak about it because of the stigma," she tells BBC Newsbeat.
In his interview, Holland also mentioned he dreads a read-through for his roles and tries his best to prepare for it.
"When I have to read out loud, it just becomes like a kind of mental block. And I can freeze," he told Poehler.
"Like at the read-through, I will try and highlight everything and learn my lines ahead of time."
Ashley, 25, relates to Holland's experiences, particularly when she was a child.
"They would ask you: 'please read out loud to the class'. It was a horrible experience.
"Because you can lose your place while you're reading."
Government statistics show that 6.3 million people in the UK have dyslexia, while one in six adults have the reading level of an 11-year-old.
Ashley adds it's a great example that someone as high-profile as Holland can have dyslexia and a successful career, but she wishes he went into "more depth" about his experiences.
"Unfortunately, due to dyslexia people can only thrive in certain places," she says, adding there are challenges because of language being used everywhere.
Q&A
Why did Tom Holland turn down the SNL hosting role?
Tom Holland turned down the SNL hosting role due to his fear of reading cue cards because of his dyslexia.
What is dyslexia and how does it affect individuals?
Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that affects how the brain processes written words, making reading challenging for individuals.
How has Tom Holland's message about dyslexia been received?
Tom Holland's message about dyslexia has been praised as 'powerful' for raising awareness about the challenges faced by those with the condition.
What does Tom Holland say about his experience with dyslexia?
Tom Holland described himself as 'heavily dyslexic' and expressed his fears related to reading, which influenced his decision to decline the SNL role.
