The Unexpected Friendship Between PT Barnum And His Freak Show Performer | Tom Thumb

The mid-19th century America witnessed the rise of the first global celebrity, General Tom Thumb, who stood at 25 inches tall and captivated millions with his performances. But there were societal clashes around high art versus the kind of mass entertainment provided by Tom Thumb.
Despite how relationships between managers and their proteges usually go in showbusiness, PT Barnum and Tom Thumb buck the trend and work together for 40 years in a business partnership. But questions still remain about whether it is ethical to exploit individuals as 'human curiosities' for the purposes of entertainment.