Fans love new ‘Simpsons’ character that is a breast cancer survivor
On The Simpsons Sunday, we met a character named Dr. Wendy Sage, a hypnotherapist and breast cancer survivor who has had a unilateral mastectomy, and is also showing a visible scar from a port-o-cath, a device used to deliver chemotherapy.
The character is voiced and was created by Renee Ridgeley, an actress, writer, breast cancer survivor and the wife of Simpons showurnner, Matt Selman. Ridgeley discussed the character with Yahoo Life saying, “Sage shows up as exactly who she is now. By living openly as a one-breasted woman, she sends a message of acceptance and wholeness celebrated by individuals in marginalized groups.”
Viewers on social media enjoyed seeing this representation on the show, and gave thanks via Twitter. With one person saying, “This is Breast Cancer Awareness Month done well.”
Video Transcript
DR. WENDY SAGE: Marge, Lisa, today we'll be using hypnotherapy as a tool that builds empathy by exploring the landscapes of each other's minds.
KYLIE MAR: On a very special episode of The Simpsons Sunday night, we met a new character named Dr. Wendy Sage. She's a hypnotherapist and also a breast cancer survivor, one who has had a unilateral mastectomy and is also showing a visible scar from a Port-A-Cath, a device used to deliver chemotherapy. The character was created and is voiced by Renee Ridgeley, an actress, writer, and breast cancer survivor who is also the wife of Simpson's showrunner, Matt Selman.
DR. WENDY SAGE: Now that you've explored Lisa's subconscious, perhaps we should travel to Marge's. I have one of those?
KYLIE MAR: Viewers on Twitter loved seeing the representation on the show, saying things like, "Many Thanks to the Simpsons. This is Breast Cancer Awareness Month done well. And, "The Simpsons has a character with one boob and a port scar, and I'm in love." And along with appearing during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Sage's debut happened during an episode about body positivity, which struck a chord with the viewers as well, who tweeted things like, "I must say, the Simpsons does know how to handle an episode that deals with a serious topic. Well done."
LISA: I guess the hurtful things your mother says to you never totally disappear.
MARGE: Maybe they don't, but I really believe that if you're aware of them, those words will lose their power over you.
