Disney's forthcoming Pixar animated series, "Win or Lose," has sparked controversy after the entertainment giant decided to eliminate a transgender character from the show.
The series, set to premiere on Disney+ in February, revolves around the diverse members of a co-ed youth softball team, the Pickles, as they gear up for their championship game. The cast includes comedian Will Forte, lending his voice to the team's coach, Dan.
According to The Guardian, the Hollywood Reporter was the first to break the news that several lines of dialogue referencing the transgender character's identity had been expunged. Disney confirmed the alteration in a statement, explaining, "When it comes to animated content for a younger audience, we recognize that many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline." An insider close to the show revealed that the studio had decided to change the character's gender identity months ago.
Chanel Stewart, the 18-year-old transgender actor who was set to voice the character, expressed her disappointment with Disney's decision. "From the moment I got the script, I was excited to share my journey to help empower other trans youth. I knew this would be a very important conversation. Trans stories matter, and they deserve to be heard," she shared with Deadline. Stewart confirmed that while her character remains a significant part of the show, the character would now be a "straight cis girl."
Stewart had initially applied for the role in 2020 after learning about Pixar's search for a transgender girl to voice a transgender teenager for the series. "The thought of authentically portraying a transgender teenage girl made me really happy," she told Deadline. "I wanted to make this for transgender kids like me."
Keisha, Stewart's mother, also voiced her concern to Deadline, stating, "There may be some parents out there who are not ready to have that conversation, but this is the world that we live in and everyone should be represented. Everyone deserves to be recognized. And it felt like it was just another setback for the LGBTQ community, because its very hard on transgender teenagers transgender people, period."
Disney has previously faced criticism for its handling of LGBTQ+ characters, whose presence can impact the company's ability to market films and TV shows in countries that censor or ban LGBTQ+ content. The company's response to Florida's "don't say gay" bill also drew attention to its political affiliations and the lack of LGBTQ+ representation in its films.
In 2022, the Pixar film "Lightyear" stirred controversy for featuring a brief scene of two women kissing, while Disney Animation's "Strange World," despite having an openly gay lead character, underperformed at the box office. Disney also removed a lesbian kiss from a Star Wars film to secure a lower age rating in Singapore. The company declined to comment further on the matter.
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