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Disney pulls Maui costume

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Alienfan

Member
Disney will no longer sell a children’s costume depicting a Polynesian character from the upcoming animated film Moana after it has drawn accusations of cultural misappropriation and comparisons to blackface.

“The team behind Moana has taken great care to respect the cultures of the Pacific Islands that inspired the film, and we regret that the Maui costume has offended some,” the company said in a statement Wednesday. “We sincerely apologize and are pulling the costume from our website and stores.”

http://www.ew.com/article/2016/09/21/disney-pulls-moana-costume-cultural-misappropriation

What a disappointing turn of events, it's a kids costume! It's common place for costume shops to offer Egyptian Pharoah, Native American, Samurai, musketeers, romans, medieval knights outfits... the list goes on... God forbid there's a polynesian character Kid's will admire as strong, funny and brave and will maybe want to dress up as. But wait, can't have that because of arbitrary cultural reasons made by a vocal few.
 

woodland

Member
Thanks Neogaf

Honestly agreed with all the other people in the other thread saying this movie's push was a good thing. This movie looks great and hunting down Halloween costumes is a silly thing to do.
 

Acerac

Banned
It's a shame, it seemed there was no right move for Disney in this situation.

From a PR standpoint they may have been better off not making the movie, and that's pretty sad.
 

kmfdmpig

Member
If the standard to surrender were causing offense among those who live to be offended then no costumes would make it to market.
 

Brewmont

Banned
Yeah I don't understand the people who shame these types of things out of existence. Do they think that by boycotting, etc, that they're gonna change society? Like I get having sensitivity about certain issues, but after they kick and scream, then what? What is accomplished?
 
Yeah I don't understand the people who shame these types of things out of existence. Do they think that by boycotting, etc, that they're gonna change society? Like I get having sensitivity about certain issues, but after they kick and scream, then what? What is accomplished?
These people always existed it's just now they have a platform to spew their nonsense
 

Brewmont

Banned
These people always existed it's just now they have a platform to spew their nonsense

Yeah I guess so. I just roll my eyes when they think they've got "it all figured out" because they read think pieces that simplify issues down to talking points. My degree was in Sociology and the fact that they don't realize that creating change is both slow and more complicated than being worked up and played by every click bait outrage article frustrates me.
 

JordanN

Banned
Guys, I came up with a solution.

IoETpZV.jpg


Where's my paycheck Disney?
 
Can't even be an innocent child who wants to celebrate another culture or hero of another race without being told you have ill intent. Sorry kids stick with dressIng up as your own culture.
 
Yeah, good job people. I'm sure you'll have a great explanation when a young boy asks why the male lead of a Disney movie who looks just like them doesn't have a costume for them to dress up in. Or even kids who don't look like him but love the character anyway.

I'm sure your clear plastic costume with tattoos printed on it is a wonderful idea.
 

Alienfan

Member
Good.

The fact it even made it into production shows how far we still need to go, though.

For what? A segregated society based on the colour of our skin, where not only kids can't dress up as characters from other cultures, but even kids from non-white backgrounds can't dress up as characters from their own culture. Sounds brilliant
 

Briarios

Member
They're pulling a product,a movie tie-in ... it's not like some literary masterpiece is being blacklisted or burned lol It harms no one to remove it. Nothing was lost in life or culture except some parent being separated from some cash.
 

StoneFox

Member
Disney releases a costume that looks better on darker skinned kids instead of all the white prince and princess costumes, and it gets pulled.

C'mon now. :/
 
They're pulling a product,a movie tie-in ... it's not like some literary masterpiece is being blacklisted or burned lol It harms no one to remove it. Nothing was lost in life or culture except some parent being separated from some cash.

If it's such a trifling matter, why make a big deal out of it in the first place?
 
They're pulling a product,a movie tie-in ... it's not like some literary masterpiece is being blacklisted or burned lol It harms no one to remove it. Nothing was lost in life or culture except some parent being separated from some cash.

First, they came for our Maui costumes....
 
I'm actually surprised how many people in this thread are upset that it was pulled. This seems like something GAF would approve of.
 

Hypnotoad

Member
Good. Next thing on the agenda should be a ban on selling football jerseys for national teams other than your own. I am offended each time I see some POC wearing my countries' colors and appropriating my flag without understanding the history behind it.
 

Mastperf

Member
Good.

The fact it even made it into production shows how far we still need to go, though.
The fact that is was even an issue goes to show how far we still need to go. Little kids wanting to and being allowed to dress as someone of another color is a very good thing.
 
The notion that Disney is going to backtrack on more minority characters due to a possibly unfavorable costume is ridiculous.
 
Can't even be an innocent child who wants to celebrate another culture without being told you have ill intent. Sorry kids stick with dressIng up as your own culture.

Because the problem was totally the kids, not Disney's tacky as hell commercialisation of said culture.
 
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