Rapper Snoop Dogg has caused a stir with remarks about LGBTQ+ representation in children’s films, expressing that he feels ‘scared to go to the movies’ – what a baby! – due to the proliferation of such themes. The comments, made during an interview on the It’s Giving podcast, specifically referenced Disney and Pixar’s 2022 film Lightyear, which features a same-sex kiss and a lesbian couple. Snoop Dogg recounted taking his grandson to see the movie and being taken aback when his grandson began asking questions about the same-sex relationship in the film. ‘I didn’t come in for this s**t. I just came to watch the goddamn movie,’ is how he put it. He suggested that these narratives are being ‘forced’ into children’s entertainment, implying that such content might be more suitable for adult audiences. Sleeping Beauty being kissed without her consent is apparently OK.
Public reactions to Snoop Dogg’s comments have been polarised. While some social media users and commentators have criticised the rapper for what they perceive as a display of homophobia — branding him a ‘slur merchant’ or accusing him of evolving from a once widely respected figure into a divisive one — others have supported his right to express concern over age-appropriateness in children’s films.
Industry voices have also joined the conversation. Australian Senator Sarah Hanson-Young publicly condemned Snoop Dogg, calling for his removal from the Australian Football League Grand Final due to his comments. This episode adds to a wider cultural debate about the role of Hollywood and media in reflecting society’s diversity. Studies such as one from the University of Southern California reveal that LGBTQ+ characters have become more common in children’s films over the past decade, rising to around 15% from a mere 2% in the early 2000s. This increase represents Hollywood’s response to calls for greater inclusivity and representation.
Market research also indicates that a sizeable proportion of younger audiences — particularly within Gen Z — support and even expect more LGBTQ+ representation in media, suggesting that inclusivity can be commercially beneficial. However Disney did encounter controversy around Lightyear, with some markets opting to ban the film’s same-sex kiss scene.
Just goes to show, even apparently forward-thinking folk like Snoop Dogg aren’t always what they seem.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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