Not quite the first…the Frozen show at the Hyperion Theater in Disney California Adventure had a black actress playing Anna. I saw her multiple times and she was very good in the role. I think this qualifies as a fairly high profile casting.
It’s going to backfire on them. Soon no one will recognize any princesses and they will continue to lose guest interest in them until they manage to not just kill their goose that lays their golden eggs, but roast it and serve it with dressing and then they will wonder what happened.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to seek out stories and characters that contain diverse elements within the original stories instead of adjusting the characters to satisfy what Disney percieves to be a need for diverse characters. I’m sure their are many rich and wonderful stories from all cultures to allow Disney to explore diversity. For example, Encanto, Pocahantas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Princess and the Frog and the list goes on. There really is no need to force diversity into all the tales, it rings hollow.
Amended comment from above:
Wouldn’t it make more sense to seek out stories and characters that contain diverse elements within the original stories instead of adjusting the characters to satisfy what Disney percieves to be a need for diverse characters. I’m sure there are many rich and wonderful stories from all cultures to allow Disney to explore diversity. For example, Encanto, Pocahantas, Moana, Mulan, Alladin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Princess and the Frog and the list goes on. There really is no need to force diversity into all the tales, it rings hollow.
Can’t wait to see Disney cast a white actress as Tiana from Princess and the Frog
Let’s see them do that to be “inclusive” and let’s see the reaction then
Keep on waiting, never going to happen. It wouldn’t fit into their pandering, placating diversity propaganda. That’s like making the black panther into a white character.
I am a lady with red hair and very light skin and sad that they are changing Ariel. There are only a couple of Princesses with red hair, and there are little girls who have red hair that need them only 1% of people have red hair.
Some of my favorite movies are Princess and the frog, Pocahontas, Moana and I would love to see more but don’t change the other beloved Princesses and characters!
I feel the same way about Ariel. It also saddens me that I see them doing these kinds of changes to historical Disney Princesses but then canceling more progressive prductions like The Owl House because it doesn’t fit the “Disney Brand”. As big as Disney is now, a funny entertaining show with a steady stream of followers who yearn to buy associated mecha doesn’t fit the “Disney brand”? Oh, I guess it’s because the lead is not white or heterosexual.
Disney owes reparations to all its POC fans and customers who’ve been noticeably underrepresented in their cannon.
These desires of representation are not equivalent. Also, the Irish, while mistreated, were term-limited Indentured Servants, not bonded-for-life like the enslaved Africans.
This reminds me of those stupid racist SOBs shouting out, “you will not replace us!” over and over again. I always thought to myself, “pff, nobody’s trying to replace you!” Hmm, well ironically I guess they have some fodder now…
I wonder if Disney ever asked the black and minority communities what they think of this? I suspect they will disagree with this. Social justice in a democracy is doomed to fail, because they are taking away the opinions of people who disagree with this. Just make up new stories about new lands and new royals, instead of changing already established characters. But Disney is good at that. They already changed Maleficent and her story
Somebody said this already, but I want to reiterate their point: Why can’t Disney just make movies, musicals, etc. based on tales/myths/legends from other (non-white) cultures instead of black-washing traditionally white characters? I would totally dig a Disney movie based on some traditional African, Filipino, Indian, etc. folk hero or something.
If you look at 2020 census data for the US, 42% of Americans are not white. And that’s without even bringing in people who are queer or disabled. So considering the years upon years of underrepresentation for minorities, 50% would not be overrepresentation.
Changing race of a character will always offend some people. Terrible idea Disney. Why not do the new character justice and create a NEW story existing in the same world/universe. For example, I’d love to watch a movie plot where Ariel mysteriously disappears and the new mermaid going on a journey to figure out what happened. However, I will not watch movies where Disney just blatantly alters races. Keep it magical, not political.
Anna and Elsa are from a Norwegian area, predominantly white. Ariel is a Danish story, predominantly white. Snow White is German with the name white in it, predominantly white. They are these races for a reason. Just like Moana is an islander, Tiana from New Orleans predominantly black, Pocahontas native American, Mirabelle Latina. Their story is reflect where they are from, changing their race changes the root of their story. I’m on board with everyone else saying give us new stories! It’s ridiculous to change the root of the other stories.
I think Disney knows this is ridiculous and wrong, but they have to appease these stupid woke people so they don’t get canceled. Our society is full of stupid people, so Disney has to be stupid to follow the money.
When it’s realized that all of this race and culture pushing is making things worse by creating racial tensions where there were none, it’ll probably be too late to reverse it and we’ll be in an all out race war.
Wait until you’re told you can’t get promoted because you’re white and they need more minority upper level people. Isn’t being denied a job based on race what contributed to this problem in the first place? Now they think making everything minority will fix it?
Disney is going about their approach to inclusivity and diversity in the wrong way. How will Disney answer to the little kids who ask why their favorite Disney characters don’t look like the ones the have seen in the movies or on TV. The Disney executives can explain this strange change to the kids in person and see how their explanation implodes.
Until Disney walks away from China and there human rights abuses all this is just show. When cast members walk out over this then perhaps I’ll believe their sincerity
Comments for Disney Breaks Boundaries, Iconic Princess May No Longer Be Played By A White Performer
hale-bopp
Not quite the first…the Frozen show at the Hyperion Theater in Disney California Adventure had a black actress playing Anna. I saw her multiple times and she was very good in the role. I think this qualifies as a fairly high profile casting.
Pete
It’s going to backfire on them. Soon no one will recognize any princesses and they will continue to lose guest interest in them until they manage to not just kill their goose that lays their golden eggs, but roast it and serve it with dressing and then they will wonder what happened.
Rev. Donalda
It doesn’t seem as though this person paid attention to the reported swell of numbers when Black Santa debuted last Christmas.
William
Wouldn’t it make more sense to seek out stories and characters that contain diverse elements within the original stories instead of adjusting the characters to satisfy what Disney percieves to be a need for diverse characters. I’m sure their are many rich and wonderful stories from all cultures to allow Disney to explore diversity. For example, Encanto, Pocahantas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Princess and the Frog and the list goes on. There really is no need to force diversity into all the tales, it rings hollow.
Dan R.
Exactly, thank you!
William
Amended comment from above:
Wouldn’t it make more sense to seek out stories and characters that contain diverse elements within the original stories instead of adjusting the characters to satisfy what Disney percieves to be a need for diverse characters. I’m sure there are many rich and wonderful stories from all cultures to allow Disney to explore diversity. For example, Encanto, Pocahantas, Moana, Mulan, Alladin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Princess and the Frog and the list goes on. There really is no need to force diversity into all the tales, it rings hollow.
Karen
Agree completely.
B
Make new stories not race replace
Vinnie
Can’t wait to see Disney cast a white actress as Tiana from Princess and the Frog
Let’s see them do that to be “inclusive” and let’s see the reaction then
Chris Wood
Keep on waiting, never going to happen. It wouldn’t fit into their pandering, placating diversity propaganda. That’s like making the black panther into a white character.
Dee
I am a lady with red hair and very light skin and sad that they are changing Ariel. There are only a couple of Princesses with red hair, and there are little girls who have red hair that need them only 1% of people have red hair.
Some of my favorite movies are Princess and the frog, Pocahontas, Moana and I would love to see more but don’t change the other beloved Princesses and characters!
Aly
I feel the same way about Ariel. It also saddens me that I see them doing these kinds of changes to historical Disney Princesses but then canceling more progressive prductions like The Owl House because it doesn’t fit the “Disney Brand”. As big as Disney is now, a funny entertaining show with a steady stream of followers who yearn to buy associated mecha doesn’t fit the “Disney brand”? Oh, I guess it’s because the lead is not white or heterosexual.
Aly
Merchandise*
Rev. Donalda
Merida will suffice.
Also, red hair can be changed.
Disney owes reparations to all its POC fans and customers who’ve been noticeably underrepresented in their cannon.
These desires of representation are not equivalent. Also, the Irish, while mistreated, were term-limited Indentured Servants, not bonded-for-life like the enslaved Africans.
Dr. Todd
Shut up.
Grover
This reminds me of those stupid racist SOBs shouting out, “you will not replace us!” over and over again. I always thought to myself, “pff, nobody’s trying to replace you!” Hmm, well ironically I guess they have some fodder now…
Chris Wood
I wonder if Disney ever asked the black and minority communities what they think of this? I suspect they will disagree with this. Social justice in a democracy is doomed to fail, because they are taking away the opinions of people who disagree with this. Just make up new stories about new lands and new royals, instead of changing already established characters. But Disney is good at that. They already changed Maleficent and her story
Maggie
Somebody said this already, but I want to reiterate their point: Why can’t Disney just make movies, musicals, etc. based on tales/myths/legends from other (non-white) cultures instead of black-washing traditionally white characters? I would totally dig a Disney movie based on some traditional African, Filipino, Indian, etc. folk hero or something.
Hera
They say they want to reflect the market, but 50% underrepresented communities is actually not reflective of the market, it’s overrepresentation.
Archimedes
If you look at 2020 census data for the US, 42% of Americans are not white. And that’s without even bringing in people who are queer or disabled. So considering the years upon years of underrepresentation for minorities, 50% would not be overrepresentation.
Me
Wait, so disability and sexual orientation are races now?
Dr. Todd
Incorrect. Only 15% are non white. Your data counts Hispanics separate from white, Hispanics are white.
Marge
Changing race of a character will always offend some people. Terrible idea Disney. Why not do the new character justice and create a NEW story existing in the same world/universe. For example, I’d love to watch a movie plot where Ariel mysteriously disappears and the new mermaid going on a journey to figure out what happened. However, I will not watch movies where Disney just blatantly alters races. Keep it magical, not political.
Mario
Patronising woke nonsense.
Lisa
Anna and Elsa are from a Norwegian area, predominantly white. Ariel is a Danish story, predominantly white. Snow White is German with the name white in it, predominantly white. They are these races for a reason. Just like Moana is an islander, Tiana from New Orleans predominantly black, Pocahontas native American, Mirabelle Latina. Their story is reflect where they are from, changing their race changes the root of their story. I’m on board with everyone else saying give us new stories! It’s ridiculous to change the root of the other stories.
Get Real
Totally agree with Lisa. Forcing diversity doesn’t make sense.
Side note: Ariel is a red head. That is who she is!!
Tired of it! of it!
I think Disney knows this is ridiculous and wrong, but they have to appease these stupid woke people so they don’t get canceled. Our society is full of stupid people, so Disney has to be stupid to follow the money.
When it’s realized that all of this race and culture pushing is making things worse by creating racial tensions where there were none, it’ll probably be too late to reverse it and we’ll be in an all out race war.
Wait until you’re told you can’t get promoted because you’re white and they need more minority upper level people. Isn’t being denied a job based on race what contributed to this problem in the first place? Now they think making everything minority will fix it?
We’re all doomed!
Rev. Donalda
There was nothing of the typical redhead’s plight that was threaded into Ariel’s storyline.
Dr. Todd
Donald read the room. You are the only one that likes this.
Julie
So well said
Karen Jackson
Disney is going about their approach to inclusivity and diversity in the wrong way. How will Disney answer to the little kids who ask why their favorite Disney characters don’t look like the ones the have seen in the movies or on TV. The Disney executives can explain this strange change to the kids in person and see how their explanation implodes.
Debbie
Does that mean that Tiana may be played by a white actress or the Hispanic characters played African American or white actors and actresses?
Sean
It means that “inclusivity” is progressive code word for anti-white.
Tom
Until Disney walks away from China and there human rights abuses all this is just show. When cast members walk out over this then perhaps I’ll believe their sincerity
Dr. Todd
Amen
Comments are closed.