Well, it seems Disney finally got the memo. After the Lightyear box-office disaster, which many blamed on the much-hyped same-sex kiss, Disney decided to make some strategic changes with Inside Out 2.
And guess what? It worked. The movie became a massive hit, raking in over $652 million domestically this summer—without the heavy-handed LGBTQ messaging that tanked their previous attempts.
According to multiple sources, Disney execs took a hard look at why Lightyear flopped and landed on the controversial lesbian kiss as a big factor. It’s no secret the scene was removed and then reinserted after Pixar employees revolted, accusing Disney of “censoring gay affection.” But when all was said and done, Lightyear bombed, pulling in a measly $118 million domestically. For Disney, that was a wake-up call.
So, when it came time to release Inside Out 2, the studio made sure not to make the same mistake. According to insiders, Disney was very involved in the development process, with “continuous notes” reportedly given to make Riley, the main character, come across as “less gay.”
There were even rumors of edits being made to scenes between Riley and a new character, Val, to keep their relationship looking as platonic as possible. Lighting, tone, and even chemistry were adjusted to ensure no one could interpret their friendship as anything more.
Pixar reportedly told overworked animators to make Riley “less gay” in Inside Out 2.
When you force the narrative nothing feels natural and the whole thing suffers but that’s basically Disney and Hollywood today as they are always trying to tick boxes rather than make good… pic.twitter.com/XkT1axDKcd
— It’s us against them and we’re the many. (@WeTheMany_) September 17, 2024
It’s not just Lightyear Disney’s been licking their wounds over. Strange World, another animated film featuring a gay teen protagonist, flopped even harder—bringing in a laughable $31 million domestically. Let’s face it, these projects aren’t failing because of the animation or voice talent. Parents simply aren’t flocking to theaters to have their kids exposed to the constant LGBTQ messaging Disney seems determined to push.
Of course, Disney’s been in hot water for this for a while now. Between battling Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law (which critics dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill) and introducing transgender characters into children’s programming, the company has alienated a good chunk of its audience. Not to mention, they even tried to cash in with an LGBTQ-themed apparel line. It’s no wonder Disney’s financials are in the gutter—last year alone, CEO Bob Iger had to lay off 7,000 workers, and the cuts haven’t stopped.
The lesson here? Maybe families just want to watch a movie without an agenda.
