Coronation Street star Cherylee Houston, who plays Izzy Armstrong in the ITV soap, has revealed she is frequently shouted at in the street and faces abuse on a daily basis over using a wheelchair.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Monday, August 3, the actress addressed the harassment she has experienced since being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and using a wheelchair.
Her comments came during a discussion about Ariana Grande's decision to step back from public life to protect her mental health after scrutiny over her appearance.
Bullying and online trolls
Cherylee told hosts Kate Garraway and Richard Madeley: "A couple of times I've been on television and my chair hasn't been on view, I've been bullied for that."
She revealed online trolls have accused her of "making it up" and that the abuse she suffers is "on a daily basis".
Recalling a recent incident, she said: "My friend and I were wheeling down the street, and a man was shouting out about how much benefits we got and stuff, and how we make it up. It happens all the time."
Richard Madeley's response
Richard responded: "I have to say, anyone who sees your chair on screen and then puts their fingers on a keyboard to say you're pretending or you're seeking sympathy or something, I think they're a bit thick."
Cherylee replied: "Yes and no, because I think some of it is about our representation and an understanding."
She went on: "There's so much lack of understanding because we're 1 in 5, but we're not on screen, our stories aren't told."
Previous abuse
Cherylee previously spoke about the "blatant" abuse she has received, and condemned the trolling after an incident in 2024 when a person shouted a slur at her from a passing car.
She told BBC Radio Manchester: "This is happening an awful lot to deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people."
She said she felt as though some people did not even know they were being discriminatory. "That's why it's so blatant and OK to do in a way – people can climb over you, stand in front of you, ignore you, not allow you in."
Urging people to stand up to the trolls, she said: "If you see something that's not right, say something. Don't allow the individual to take that abuse."
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.
