Derpy's forgotten ableist past

It’s a sunny autumn morning in Tāmaki Makaurau. I’m on a walk with my partner and we pass by a particular nondescript red and yellow fast food joint. As a recovering graphic design nerd, I habitually glance at their advertisements. Yeah okay, burgers, whatever, seems chill.

Then I see something that stops me dead in my tracks.

A poster advertising some ice cream part of a KPop Demon Hunters collab, covered in violently purple sauce, adorns the storefront.

But it’s not the food I’m concerned about, it’s the bold lettering glaring out at me from the image.

“Who the hell decided to bring back 'derpy'?”

Never in all my days did I think seeing an ad for a bit of shit soft serve would lead me down a rabbit hole on how language is not ‘just’ words in the scope of wider society. Changing the way we speak can help dismantle social power structures, especially for underrepresented groups like disabled communities.

'Derpy', I thought, was so bad I swore off ever using it. Now it’s up in bright lights, and I found the lack of backlash the second time round puzzling.

In 2012-ish, I vividly remember the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (MLP:FIM) community falling into disarray as Season 2: Episode 14 aired, The Last Roundup. In the episode, a grey pegasus with a physical difference (eyes pointing in two different directions) is referred to on-screen as ‘derpy'.

This had been a long-standing fan name, so for most it was a huge moment to see it implemented on-screen. However others quickly flagged how 'derpy' had been extensively used in online communities with ableist connotations.

In response, the creators of MLP:FIM decided to edit the offending episode and remove the character’s cameo. The character was now ‘Muffins.’

Some 14 years later, we have 'derpy' in the form of a blue tiger creature in Oscar-winning Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters. Not a peep from anyone.

How come a word that was met with such resistance over its ableist connotations be revived with no negative attention… not just 'derpy' either, but the r-word can continue to rear its ugly head incessantly?

Looking at The Broadcasting Standards Association’s latest survey of Language That May Offend in Broadcasting (2025): the r-word, cripple and spastic are still perceived as highly offensive in the eyes of the reasonable public. But online, they’re booming.

When you really start getting into the nitty gritty of it, even words like ‘delulu’ or ‘stupid’ can be inherently othering for disabled people in our society.

The rabbit hole is getting narrower and I need a guide.

Thankfully, Sociolinguist and Associate Professor at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Julia de Bres came to the rescue.

Julia met with me and explained how discriminatory language influences power structures within society. Using language that punches down, reinforces who the majority group is. Julia notes that societal attitudes have a big part to play in the type of language used – but she doesn’t feel ableist language has increased but in fact, stayed consistent.

“As social change advances, language changes too, and there's this kind of virtuous circle. So, change is always happening, but ableist language… I feel like, as a phenomenon, is pretty constant,” Julia explains.

Even in contexts intended to be humorous, slurs used by non-disabled people perpetuate a certain social hierarchy, an in-group. Using slurs intentionally maintains those social boundaries and tells those in groups they’re not interested in knowing – or understanding – their existence is laughable. In turn, those who are unaware or ignorant may also use those words and further drive home that othering.

But not everyone’s slinging around the r-word or ‘spastic.’ What about other words that feel ableist, but they’re entrenched in day-to-day language?

It appears there’s a metaphorical sliding scale of offensiveness, where the r-word probably sits right near the top as most offensive, and words like ‘stupid’ or ‘lame’ sit closer to the bottom – still upsetting to some, but wouldn’t garner the same reaction if you whipped it out in conversation. 'Derpy'? It may not even sit on that scale anymore.

Language doesn’t have an inherent morality. There’s no right or wrong. If you don’t know a word is offensive to a minority group, it doesn’t make you a bigot. What matters is what you do with that information once someone tells you.

'Derpy' had fallen so far out of the zeitgeist its return was unnoticed, as the use of the word to harm the disabled community had almost completely stopped. Hence, no large public backlash. Although, that doesn’t mean it can’t begin to be a slur again or that it doesn’t harm people today.

Julia initially didn’t even know about the word 'derpy', nor that it could be used as a slur with connotations to harm the disabled community, but said it wouldn’t be a word she’d use moving forward.

“One of the key things is that if you are connected to minority communities, then you probably will start knowing what, you know, what words are offensive and which ones aren't. [...] Then you probably will, at some point, start to want to care about your language; not being racist, not being ableist, not being homophobic, because you care about people… and you care about the real effect that language has on them.”

Regardless of this arbitrary offensive scale, if someone tells you a word makes them uncomfortable, you have a social choice to change your language moving forward, or continue to use the word.

So what can we do to combat ableist language?

You don’t have to Google every word you use, but being aware of the language you use is a really good start. For example, subbing out a word like ‘delulu’ for a phrase like ‘It’s totally unlikely’ or ‘It would never happen in my reality.’ You’re showing respect for those around you who may have experienced delusion, but also you get to feel real smart with your big fancy words.

Have conversations with those around you about their language. If they’re using something that could be harmful, flag it with them. It’s up to the individual if they take it on board. If it’s on social media, you have the ability to block the account. It hurts to see, but if you can show these platforms you’re not the person for that type of content, then you may also protect those around you from seeing it too.

Remember, it’s okay to slip up if you’re trying to adjust your language. If you’re unsure, do a little research, ask questions or get clarification.

Julia has hope that actions like these, and articles like this, will improve social cohesion overall.

“I find it heartening now to see so much good stuff written about disability. I love The D*List, for instance, you know, [...] it's sometimes funny, and it's critical of things that are going on. That gives power to people, and that is a form of language, you know, and discourse that we're using to… as a community… to build solidarity and hopefully create understanding outside the group and so on.”

Changing our language is one of the many, many nuanced puzzle pieces in combating ableism and discrimination in our wider society. There isn’t a solid answer on how this language will circulate further – but in my opinion, any change you or I can implement that makes our impact on those around us a little kinder, surely must be a win right?

Thanks 'derpy', my unlikely muse, for sending me down this rabbit hole.

Ellie Marsden is part of our Community Reporters Programme for 2026. This programme supports The D*List's commitment to nurturing the next generation of disabled storytellers in Aotearoa. You can read more about our Community Reporters Programme here.