Borussia Dortmund Own Goal

STAMMA is deeply concerned by the recent video posted by Borussia Dortmund, then deleted, which used a clip of influencer Jessie Yendle’s stammer as a “transition” into a dance track.

Using a person's speech disability or difference as a punchline or a sound effect is not "content”, it’s mockery. For the 1 in 100 people who stammer, seeing a global sporting institution treat the way they talk as something to be laughed at is alienating and can do real harm. 

While we acknowledge that the club has reached out to Jessie, a private meeting cannot rectify the public normalisation of ridicule. Especially if this isn’t followed by genuine commitment to change. We urge Borussia Dortmund, and all sporting organizations, to move beyond "damage control" and toward genuine disability literacy.

Inclusivity in Sport: Why It Matters

Sports are often called "the great equalizer," but that only holds true if everyone is allowed on the pitch, in the stands, and in the conversation, without being mocked.

When a major club makes fun of a stammer, they are telling every young fan with a speech difference that they don't belong in sport.

What teams need to do to be inclusive

• Training: Social media and marketing teams need specific training on stammering. If jumping on a “trend” means making a joke out of someone's physical or neurological difference, that content shouldn't leave the draft folder.

• Spotlight the community: Instead of using stammers for "memes," clubs should highlight the diverse voices within their own fanbase. Feature fans who stammer, use sign language, or have other visible/invisible disabilities in their content. Working with the community, not using them for clout.

• Accessible Media Policies: Ensure that club interviews and press conferences allow for "extra time" for speakers who stammer, normalizing the sound of dysfluent speech without cutting it away or "fixing" it in the edit.

• Accountability over Erasure: If a mistake happens, clubs should do more than just delete the video and apologise. They should use their platform to explain why it was wrong, turning a moment of exclusion into an educational opportunity for their millions of followers. They need to show they’re truly committed to understanding disabilities and becoming inclusive.

Jane Powell, CEO of STAMMA, said:

“Too often, stammering is seen as something to make fun of. We applaud Jessie Yendle's commitment in continuing to raise awareness, as she keeps calling out businesses who have thought making fun of her speech would make for funny content. It's not funny. It's just the way some of us speak.

“Without businesses, especially those with a big platform, leading by example to truly commit to inclusivity, we’re not going to see change. And they need to do this with concrete action. Changes to policies, ways of working, staff training and accessibility improvements to remove the barriers people with a disability face. Not contribute to their exclusion and alienation.”