Is it fair for a hearing interpreter to steal a deaf role from a Deaf actor after an audition? Brandon Kazen-Maddox (BKM, they, them) is a hearing interpreter who can easily act like a deaf person. This puts Deaf actors at the very hands of the interpreter, with hearing privileges that are supposed to facilitate communication between people who are deaf or hard of hearing and people who can hear.

This happened to a Deaf actor, Jahmai Davis. Brandon Kazen-Maddox was his interpreter for an audition for a Deaf role for a commercial, Mercari.  Jahmai later saw Brandon Kazen-Maddox in the commercial. Jahmai felt the interpreter Brandon Kazen-Maddox blatantly took advantage of his profession as an interpreter to get the acting role. Jahmai took his grievance to the Daily Moth to call BKM out. Brandon Kazen-Maddox, in his defense, claimed to audition first before being asked to interpret for Deaf actors, but in the Deaf Community’s eyes, BKM’s apology was not sincere, and BKM stole the role.

Jahmai Davis is not the only one. Many other Deaf people have allegations against Brandon Kazen-Maddox, and BKM continues to get away with them. 

A Deaf Filmmaker, Jade Bryan, posted a vlog about her experience with Brandon Kazen-Maddox interpreting for her. She was not happy with BKM because BKM could not stay in the role as an interpreter. BKM would constantly overstep and try to do business with her colleagues in the film industry. 

In fear of retaliation, an ASL interpreter requested to remain nameless. They feel the interpreter BKM has a goal to be famous and has to do it on a Deaf person’s back. He has a long-standing reputation for showing up to interpreting jobs and trying to network for his show business. 

Enough with Brandon Kazen-Maddox’s unethical practices of taking advantage of the position as an interpreter, using hearing privileges, and preying on opportunities for the Deaf. Now is the time to stand up against Brandon Kazen-Maddox. BKM needs to act in the role of an interpreter.

Please sign this petition, so you have the power to stop Brandon Kazen-Maddox from grabbing opportunities away from the Deaf and stop interpreting in the entertainment industry. We hope the entertainment industry will learn and take this seriously.