Critics Are Calling Out Disney for Fat-Shaming Polynesians With ‘Moana’ Character

[CampbellzSoup]

I just wish stuff like this and the poster nonsense stop getting picked up by the media we have people dieing and being blown up...but god forbid you offend someone...

 

[Rhie]

I think visual media is important and influential, and there are many studies to suggest that as well. So, "oh its just a cartoon" isn't really a good argument. Media reflects and reinforces social views, good and bad. And American social view thinks that fat is the result of immoral behavior, like gluttony. So I would say that the meme calling maui a hippo and saying that he's bad and should look like the bodybuilders is absolutely fat-shaming. There is nothing wrong with the way the character looks, and its refreshing to see it. Moana also has a different shape than the usual Disney princesses, and that's good too. There's nothing wrong with thin builds just as there is nothing wrong with fat ones. That is why we need to see all of them.

 

[JaxDad]

Fat-shaming AND tat-shaming???

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

I took him as more of a sturdy and strong guy like Cobra Bubbles, not at all fat?! Seriously, too many people with too much time on their hands looking to complain about ANYTHING!

 

[MickeySP]

I think these characters look so much better than the awful bodies from Lilo & Stitch.

Yeah & you didn't see aliens all butt hurt because not all of them are blue

 

[leebee]

I don't understand the whole "shaming" thing. STOP ALREADY. "Shaming" is just another facet of the "you hurt my feelings" culture. If you feel ashamed of how you look, act, etc., then either learn to accept who you are or do something about it. If you feel fine about who you are, good. It's your decision to be who you are. Remember the old rhyme "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me." People need to learn to suck it up and ignore what other people say.

 

[Maddle]

What I don't get is - how is it shaming if the character is shown in a good light? Doesn't shaming mean "you should feel bad if you look like this?" If he is a hero in the film then people who look like him will feel good.

Sigh...So many things to keep straight if I want to be socially acceptable.

 

[Rhie]

I don't understand the whole "shaming" thing. STOP ALREADY. "Shaming" is just another facet of the "you hurt my feelings" culture. If you feel ashamed of how you look, act, etc., then either learn to accept who you are or do something about it. If you feel fine about who you are, good. It's your decision to be who you are. Remember the old rhyme "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me." People need to learn to suck it up and ignore what other people say.

I'm glad you live in a world where you aren't constantly bombarded daily with cultural messages that you are worthless because you look a certain way. The best thing to do with that strength is to be compassionate for others. Can you imagine the positive change you can make if you to compassionately share your secret to success? People die every day as a result of Depression, PTSD, and other illnesses that are the result of a constant barrage of negative and sometimes abusive statements about their worth. There are many studies that show that actually verbal and emotional blows are harder to heal from than physical ones. So, if you have some way to avoid that, please, share.

(And no, not being snarky here. I actually want to know if you have real advice about how to not take it personally when people constantly tell you that you don't deserve to exist.)

 

[Kellykins1218]

So, "oh its just a cartoon" isn't really a good argument.

Actually, it's the perfect argument because it IS just a cartoon.

 

[Hibiscus]

I'm glad you live in a world where you aren't constantly bombarded daily with cultural messages that you are worthless because you look a certain way. The best thing to do with that strength is to be compassionate for others. Can you imagine the positive change you can make if you to compassionately share your secret to success? People die every day as a result of Depression, PTSD, and other illnesses that are the result of a constant barrage of negative and sometimes abusive statements about their worth. There are many studies that show that actually verbal and emotional blows are harder to heal from than physical ones. So, if you have some way to avoid that, please, share.

(And no, not being snarky here. I actually want to know if you have real advice about how to not take it personally when people constantly tell you that you don't deserve to exist.)

Maybe you should ask your parents to dip further into their retirement fund and pay for you to see a therapist.

 

[Rajah]

Last year, a theatre in England renamed "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" to "Snow White and her Seven Friends."

... you're kidding?

 

[Arielle22]

I'm glad you live in a world where you aren't constantly bombarded daily with cultural messages that you are worthless because you look a certain way. The best thing to do with that strength is to be compassionate for others. Can you imagine the positive change you can make if you to compassionately share your secret to success? People die every day as a result of Depression, PTSD, and other illnesses that are the result of a constant barrage of negative and sometimes abusive statements about their worth. There are many studies that show that actually verbal and emotional blows are harder to heal from than physical ones. So, if you have some way to avoid that, please, share.

(And no, not being snarky here. I actually want to know if you have real advice about how to not take it personally when people constantly tell you that you don't deserve to exist.)

Start with not reading the articles or listening to videos. Why are you listening/watching things that put you down? Also just because other people have an opinion doesn't meant you have to believe it. Where are you getting the statistics about people dying from depression and PTSD? Those illnesses don't usually kill you. Yes I do have family members who suffer from them.

Perhaps a therapist would help you work through your issues.

 

[Maggie Lizer]

And here I am, thinking it was nice to see that there was a different body type featured as a hero in a new Disney movie. I thought Moana was a welcome change from the super-skinny Elsa type. I had no idea my thomas guts were fat-shaming. Ugh!

 

[nugov2]

It is ridiculous. It is like the whole Me Before You uproar. Everyone gets offended bu everything these days. It is so annoying.

 

[low-key]

I think there cute

 

[jbcheerchick93]

I just saw Finding Dory again with the preview for Moana in the beginning. I watched carefully to see if there was anything super off about Maui's body, and there was nothing to even indicate that he is fat or overweight. During the entire dance he does, there is no belly moving or shaking around, no fat rolls as he bends over and does crazy moves. He is just a thick, strong character. And Moana herself is much more average sized, which is a welcome relief, too!