As a mother of a transgender child, I find myself deeply troubled by Disney’s decision to remove a storyline involving a trans girl athlete from their upcoming series “Win or Lose.” My daughter is transgender, and this is her life. Representation matters, and everyone deserves to be recognized, especially in a world where many parents are ready to have these conversations with their children.
As a passionate cinephile, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Disney/Pixar’s TV series “Win or Lose” on Disney+. However, it seems there’s been a shift in the narrative, as a storyline featuring a trans girl athlete has reportedly been dropped from the show. Disney clarified this decision to The Hollywood Reporter by stating that when it comes to content intended for younger audiences, many parents prefer to discuss sensitive subjects like this at their own pace. Chanel Stewart, who originally voiced the character, revealed to Deadline that although her voice work and role remain in “Win or Lose”, any dialogues and storylines directly related to this character’s trans identity have been removed.
Keisha, Stewart’s mom, shared with Deadline that it was disheartening as her daughter identifies as transgender and this is an integral part of her life. She felt strongly about not concealing this aspect, expressing that it’s crucial for everyone to be open and represented in today’s world. Everyone deserves recognition, regardless of their circumstances or identity.
Speaking directly, I expressed my deep disappointment by saying, “I felt incredibly saddened. Narratives about transgender individuals hold immense significance, and they deserve to be acknowledged and shared.
Despite Stewart’s family’s firm stance on the issue being apparent, Disney’s response regarding the alteration in Win or Lose seems rather ambiguous and detached. The peculiarity of the situation deepens when pondering the variety of shows and films children can access on Disney+, the home platform for Win or Lose. It’s intriguing to learn about “certain topics” that are deemed acceptable on this generally kid-friendly streaming service.
Plenty of Provocative Material Is Allowed on Disney+
In the past, PG-13 content produced by Disney was only distributed under Miramax, Hollywood Pictures, or Touchstone Pictures labels. However, this changed with “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” which became the first PG-13 film released under Walt Disney Pictures in 2003. This marked a significant shift, allowing Disney’s logo to be associated with a wide variety of content that is now readily available on Disney+. For example, scenes like the opening sequence of “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” where pirates, including a young child, are executed in public by hanging, were made possible under this new policy.
As a movie buff, I must admit that I was taken aback when I realized the depth of Disney’s transformation, especially considering its early films heavily marketed towards children and connected to iconic theme park attractions. However, fast forward to the end of the decade, and Disney made a groundbreaking move by acquiring Marvel, which marked the beginning of distributing Marvel Studios movies, starting with “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” in 2012. These subsequent projects, such as “Captain America: Civil War,” pushed boundaries with graphic depictions of torture, while “Avengers: Endgame” showed Thor beheading Thanos (“I went for the head”), a scene that reflected his inner turmoil. This was a far cry from the days when a PG rating for “The Black Cauldron” seemed revolutionary.
Discussing films such as “Black Cauldron,” it’s worth noting that before the era of Jack Sparrow, Disney produced a wide range of movies that were quite dark and could be frightening for children. For instance, early trailers for “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” sparked stories about young kids screaming in fear at the Queen’s wicked schemes. As for “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” it incorporated songs like “Hellfire” and themes related to genocide within a film rated suitable for all audiences.
As a movie enthusiast, I can’t forget the emotional impact of watching “Bambi” for the first time. It was the film that subtly introduced me to the inevitable reality of loss – something that we all must confront in life. Though it might seem daunting for young minds to grasp such a heavy subject, it’s an essential part of growing up and understanding the world around us.
The Win or Lose Scenario is Bizarre From Every Angle
In the initial year after the launch of Disney+, Disney started including pre-movie notices for older films such as The Aristocats, Peter Pan, Aladdin, and more. These warnings indicate that the upcoming movie may contain outdated or racist stereotypes. While some controversial portrayals of diverse racial groups remain on the platform, they are accompanied by text that provides context from a historical perspective. This approach seems to be aimed at fostering meaningful discussions between younger and older Disney+ users about these important topics.
Disney+ offers a wide variety of productions that may include heavy, challenging, or distressing themes, which can be accessed without needing an additional login. Generally speaking, this is usually beneficial. At their finest, Disney’s projects have provided children with insight into diverse realms of art, culture, and human experiences. Many young viewers might have encountered Tchaikovsky’s music for the first time through the movie “Sleeping Beauty“, as an example.
Children might have discovered camaraderie with downtrodden characters in uplifting sports movies or animated flicks, who faced intense hardships. Future audiences could become more assertive in questioning societal standards after being informed about historical omissions in Disney’s pre-film warnings. Recently, Pixar’s Inside Out 2 received praise for realistically portraying the lead character Riley experiencing an anxiety attack, thereby making mental health issues more relatable for younger audiences. Even Disney merchandise can aid us in understanding and coping with the world, instead of avoiding it.
Despite the abundance of content on Disney+, it’s surprising that “Win or Lose” didn’t have room for its trans character’s storyline. Despite this disappointing turn of events, Chanel Stewart remains proud of her role in the series. As she shared with Deadline, “I’m definitely one of the first [transgender actresses] to do this!” Stewart expressed, “It’s a tremendous privilege to be a part of queer history.
Win or Lose will premiere on Disney+ on February 19, 2025.
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2024-12-18 23:42