Stranger Things’ Dustin actor opens up about bullying storyline based around his real-life condition

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Stranger Things’ Dustin actor opens up about bullying storyline based around his real-life condition

Stranger things Star Gaten Matarazzo opens up about how his cleidocranial dysplasia condition was incorporated into the character of Dustin Henderson. Cleidocranial dysplasia is a rare genetic disorder that affects bone formation that Matarazzo has had since birth. Back in season 1, long before Stranger things season 5, Dustin is bullied by other students at his school because of his cleidocranial dysplasiaWhich contributes to his lisp and lack of front teeth.

While on Mythical kitchen, Matarazzo reveals how conversations with showrunners Matt and Ross Duffer led to cleidocranial dysplasia being part of season 1’s bullying storyline. He discusses how Dustin was initially a thinly developed character and that the Duffer brothers fleshed him out by providing a personal reason for why Dustin was bullied. He breaks down the collaborative conversations that led to Kaleidocranial Dysplasia becoming an important part of the Netflix series. Read his comments below:

Eventually, I would continue to book it. They wrote it. Dustin was a pretty underdeveloped character and they wanted a reason. They were very sensitive about approach to the subject and they are really responsible about it, good about it, collaboration. This is a good thing. And it felt really good, how they approached it, but they needed a reason for the school bullies to pick on me. And they were like we were there. We know that sometimes when you have presenting differences, you get picked on like a child, especially back in the eighties.

I was thirteen years old. I didn’t have the front teeth. It was clear. I had a lisp. And so it was something that they approached me about and I was like, absolutely. Then coming to find out that this would be what propelled the platform for people with cleidocranial dysplasia for the first time, which was really exciting.

What this means for Stranger Things

It strengthened the show in multiple ways

Matarazzo’s cleidocranial dysplasia made Stranger things Season 1 stronger and provided important representation. It made the bullying feel even more cruel than it was and Contributing to Dustin feeling like an outsiderWhich made his bond with Mike, Lucas, Will and Elf become all the more special. It added more emotional depth to the story and was more compelling than Dustin being bullied for a generic reason that might have made his character feel less authentic.

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The collaborative and sensitive way that the duffers approached this helped and cemented a respectful partnership with Matarazzo that would continue throughout the rest of the series. With Dustin’s cleidocranial dysplasia at the front of Stranger thingsAnd as a Netflix series that has become a popular culture phenomenon, this Provided vital representation and led to greater awareness of the condition. Stranger things became bigger than the Duffers, Matarazzo, or anyone initially imagined, leading to greater understanding of cleidocranial dysplasia and its effects.


Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson smiling in Season 3 of Stranger Things

Even at age 13, Matarazzo is already mature and wise beyond his years How he realized the value of showcase cleidocranial dysplasia as an integral part of Dustin’s character. Although it began with the narrative giving the bullies a specific reason to pick on Dustin, it became much bigger than that, with Matarazzo explaining that it “Propelled the platform for people with cleidocranial dysplasia for the first time.” It is another strong example of how Stranger things is more than just a popular Netflix series.

Source: Mythical kitchen

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