A transgender plotline was apparently cut from Disney’s upcoming animated series “Win or Lose,” citing parental preference.
Disney’s spokesperson confirmed that the story arc was removed with The Hollywood Reporter stating, “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.”
The character is still included in the program but a few lines of dialogue that alluded to gender identity are being cut.
“Win or Lose” follows the Pickles, a co-ed middle school softball team, in the week before their championship game. A character’s off-field life and perspective—whether that of a player, parent, coach, or umpire—are the focus of each of the eight episodes.
This is not the first time the company has faced criticism for LGBTQ+ narratives, especially in relation to its animated content.
Due to former CEO Bob Chapek’s widely criticized response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, controversy broke out in 2022 both inside and outside of DIsney.
That same year, in June, Pixar’s Lightyear featured a kiss and same-gender relationship that also stirred controversy. A few months later, Disney Animation’s Strange World debuted, featuring a lead character who was openly gay.
The original series was slated for this month, but in an attempt to capitalize on the succes of the movie sequel, the dates were switched with Dream Productions, Pixar’s other original animated series centered on the character of Riley from Inside Out. “Win or Lose” will now be premiering on February 19, 2025 which features Will Forte as Coach Dan, was created by Micahel Yates, Carrie Hobson, and David Lally.
It turns out that the voice actor whose character’s storyline has been altered is transgender herself. Chanel Stewart was notified by Disney of the decision on Monday evening.
Stewart told Deadline that she was “very disheartened” by the 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 stated.
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