Disney’s ‘Cruella’ Accused of “Normalizing Animal Cruelty”

in Disney, Movies

emma stone starring in cruella, possibly coming to disney+

Credit: Disney

The latest Disney trailer to hit the internet was Emma Stone’s live-action Cruella. The 101 Dalmatians film remake goes into Cruella de Vil’s (AKA Estella de Vil) backstory. Now, Disney is starting to receive some flack as the film is accused of “normalizing animal cruelty”.

cruella
Credit: Disney

In the film, “1970s London, young fashion designer Estella de Vil becomes obsessed with dogs’ skins, especially Dalmatians, until she eventually becomes a ruthless and terrifying legend known as Cruella.” Of course, when Disney fans think of Cruella de Vil, you instantly categorize her as a villain — but with a backstory coming out that many are saying will allow viewers to sympathize with Cruella, her escapades of wanting to skin animals for high fashion may seem justified. 

Related: New Live-Action ‘Cruella’ Film Has a Connection to Cameron Boyce

Many have spoken out on Twitter, stating that Disney should not be portraying Cruella in a positive light.

Stacked Librarian (@StckedLibrarian) said:

Disney out here normalizing animal cruelty

The Superior Exalted Speed (@Exalted_Speed) spoke out on what is seemingly a role reversal, which makes the Dalmatians look like a threat.

So are we just not going to talk about how the Cruella trailer makes the dalmatians to be the bad guys? Guys I think they want us to relate to the Women whose eventual goal is to kill puppies.

Comparing Stone’s version of Cruella to The Joker and Harley Quinn has been a common discussion. Lannah le Fey (@LannahMarshall) added Maleficent into that mix:

Taking a leaf from Maleficent and The Joker, Disney has decided to release Cruella, forgetting that people don’t like watching people hunt puppies for fashion… You know, like that villain in that Dalmation movie.

Alex Harrow (@AlexHarrowSFF) noted:

No, Disney, I’m so not here for you trying to spin animal cruelty and murdering puppies for fashion into any sort of villain redemption story. Hard pass.

All of that being said, these thoughts and assumptions on what Cruella’s backstory will be are all based on the trailer alone. There is a chance that Cruella ends up just being plain evil, but if we look at Disney’s track record with live-action villain films like Maleficent, allowing the audience to sympathize with the characters we once deemed as pure evil seems to often be the goal.

Related: PETA wants Pixar to majorly change Bo Peep in “Toy Story 4”

cruella
Credit: Disney

It seems we will need to wait until May 28, 2021 for Cruella to debut so that we can see exactly how this story pans out. 

Do you think that Cruella normalizes animal cruelty? 

in Disney, Movies

View Comments (8)