Now this is really just stupid

[BRERALEX]

Disney Rids Statue Linked to Janet Jackson
5 minutes ago Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!



ORLANDO, Fla. - The Walt Disney Co. has quietly shelved a life-size statue of Mickey Mouse inspired by singer Janet Jackson, who was roundly criticized for a risque Super Bowl halftime performance.



The 6-foot, 700-pound statue was one of 75 unveiled at Walt Disney World in Orlando last fall to celebrate the 75th birthday of Mickey Mouse. The statues were inspired by celebrities such as tennis star Andre Agassi, actress Jamie Lee Curtis and comedian Ellen DeGeneres.


The statue inspired by Jackson was clad in a tight black outfit similar to one she wore in 1990 after the release of her album, Rhythm Nation 1928. It was replaced by a spare statue designed by Luis Fernandez, an in-house Disney artist.


"Considering all the controversy it drew, we talked it over for a couple of days and decided it would be best to replace hers with a new one," Gary Foster, a Disney spokesman, told the Orlando Sentinel.


Foster didn't immediately return a phone call to The Associated Press.


Jackson's bump-and-grind performance with singer Justin Timberlake during last month's Super Bowl was capped by Timberlake ripping a piece of clothing off to reveal her breast.

 

[mochabean]

It's also yanked off the 75 Years website http://disney.go.com/inside/mickey75/index.html] .
Anyone have a pic of it before they took it off?

 

[SugarBear]

I saw a picture on another site, but it was edited as a joke. Still, it's a pretty good picture -

(Looks like the link was removed, but not by me.)

 

[Luv2Roam]

I read that article too.
I saw the statue and didn't think anything about it, other than it was all dressed in black.

 

[HauntedMansionFan]

Talk about ridiculous....

 

[MikeSquared]

I just read this on MSNBC.com, I think it's stupid to remove a Mickey just becuse it was inspired by Janet Jackson. I'm glad I got a picture of all of them a month ago. I'm going to write a complaint to Disney about it in the morning.

 

[DemoBri1]

Can't we find something more worthwhile to complain about than whether or not Disney removed a Mickey statue inspired by Janet Jackson?

I mean there are more important things in the world than this.

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by DemoBri1
Can't we find something more worthwhile to complain about than whether or not Disney removed a Mickey statue inspired by Janet Jackson?

I mean there are more important things in the world than this.

Oh come on .... I don't think anyone is saying that this warrants more attention than, say, the war in Iraq or world hunger. It's just a curiousity and something silly to talk about. If you don't feel it's worthy to comment on, then just click on to the next topic, y'know?

 

[disney_parrothead]

It's all about controlling the PR - taking the safe route. Can you imagine if Disney had let the statue be displayed and guests complained about it? Then people would wonder why Disney allowed the statue to be displayed with all the heightened awareness of the Super Bowl incident. Heck, someone would have probably sued. People LOVE suing these days, and Disney doesn't need any more bad pub.

 

[BRERALEX]

I just like to post all news Disney i find online that i dont see on the boards. And i really think this is stupid. Look at what billy crystal did on the Academy Awards. If he had a mickey statue would they have taken it down?

 

[DemoBri1]

Originally posted by disney_parrothead
It's all about controlling the PR - taking the safe route. Can you imagine if Disney had let the statue be displayed and guests complained about it? Then people would wonder why Disney allowed the statue to be displayed with all the heightened awareness of the Super Bowl incident. Heck, someone would have probably sued. People LOVE suing these days, and Disney doesn't need any more bad pub.

Exactly!!!

 

[raidermatt]

Heck, someone would have probably sued.

Ok, that's a bit much, but that said, I don't really have a problem with the decision.

 

[disney_parrothead]

Originally posted by raidermatt
Ok, that's a bit much, but that said, I don't really have a problem with the decision.

I actually included the icon when I originally wrote that because it was intended to be sarcastic. But in a world where people sue McDonalds because they make fattening food and have the audacity to SELL it to us... I'm not so sure whether it should be intended as sarcasm or not!

 

[mickeyfan1]

Here is a link for the picture that is in the DIS photo library.

 

[kingj]

I, for one, do not have a problem with Disney removing this statue. With the continuing moral decline we see all around us, it is refreshing to see a company take a stand. It is more surprising to me to see the comments against Disney for doing this, given the fact the Disney is, for the most part, portrayed as a family company.

John

 

[BRERALEX]

slippery slope

 

[SpecialEd]

Maybe we could stone Janet Jackson in public on National TV. Now that would make all the self righteous moralistic freaks REALLY happy.

We could get them all together to cast the first stone!

 

[BRERALEX]

she's now scheduled for Saturday night live next month to poke fun at herself so maybe she'll say something about the statue that would be interesting.

 

[kingj]

Name calling and drama. What an appropriate reaction from someone who does not recognize the difference from right and wrong.

We all make mistakes but what Janet did was a calculated act to boost her publicity and possibly CD sales. She did it with total disregard to the many young people that may have been watching the Super Bowl. (Another family event)

I stand by my comments. I am proud that Disney took a stand.

 

[Samirella]

Originally posted by disney_parrothead
It's all about controlling the PR - taking the safe route. Can you imagine if Disney had let the statue be displayed and guests complained about it? Then people would wonder why Disney allowed the statue to be displayed with all the heightened awareness of the Super Bowl incident. Heck, someone would have probably sued. People LOVE suing these days, and Disney doesn't need any more bad pub.

They obviously weren't too worried about it since they let it remain on display at the front of the parks until the statues left. They only decided to remove it (a month after the incident) once they all left the park.