Old Navy Debuts Gay Pride T-Shirts For It Gets Better

[frijolefrito]

Princess and the Frog had a problem at the box office because it had the word "princess" in the title. It drove away most of the boy audience, which is why Disney quickly changed the name of their next animated film from "Rapunzel" to "Tangled," and featured Flynn so prominently in the advertising.

Disney had a similar problem this year with "Mars Needs Moms," which in addition to being badly reviewed, had an unfortunate title that most likely drove away the older kids it was hoping to attract.

I happened to love Princess and the Frog, but I know people who didn't. Not because of the color of the princess, but because they thought the story was bland and they didn't like the music.

I don't know a single person who rejected the film on race, or because of the current president...in fact, the film was in production long before the 2008 election, so anyone who thinks the film sprang into existence because of that, doesn't know a whole lot about how animated movies work.

My friends' kids loved Princess and the Frog, and they have the toys. I saw a few girls wearing Tiana bathing suits at the pool this weekend. So kids don't seem to be shunning it based on anything as sinister as racism.

The little mermaid coff coff. Kids shunning a movie has nothing to do with adults taking them to see it. Hannah montana and all those! I read the report it attributing to girls because it had princess? I hardly think so. It's nice you can say your experts reported this? Who's going to say I didn't take my kids to it because of the color of her skin. I go to kids movies because I want to see it too. I rent all the other ones or send em with a friend. SPACE Buddies...

 

[frijolefrito]

I think that rejecting a film based on the President's race is bizarre. Surely that can't be anyone's reasoning...

I heard similar things like that from multiple people not just my dad. Not his race the whole race issue and BS of it in the media.

 

[frijolefrito]

SORRY SORRY OFF TOPIC

YAY SHIRTS!! GO RAINBOW!! OLD NAVY .. don't like the store cuz it never has anything for me but YAY!

 

[Aisling]

I think that rejecting a film based on the President's race is bizarre. Surely that can't be anyone's reasoning...

It's bizarre, but true with some people. I heard the same thing Frito mentioned. But I don't believe that's why the movie wasn't as big a hit as other Disney movies. I loved the story, but the songs...eh. Now the Lion King and IT'S songs.

As for the titles, Hannah Montana, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, etc did great with girly titles. I wonder, what has changed with kids that Disney has to take out the girly title to attract boys (Rapunzel to Tangled)? It never affected movie tickets before.

But back to Old Navy.

 

[frijolefrito]

It's bizarre, but true with some people. I heard the same thing Frito mentioned. But I don't believe that's why the movie wasn't as big a hit as other Disney movies. I loved the story, but the songs...eh. Now the Lion King and IT'S songs.

As for the titles, Hannah Montana, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, etc did great with girly titles. I wonder, what has changed with kids that Disney has to take out the girly title to attract boys (Rapunzel to Tangled)? It never affected movie tickets before.

But back to Old Navy.

TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OLD NAVY

 

[Aisling]

TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OLD NAVY

Well, I wouldn't go THAT far!

 

[Planogirl]

Well, I wouldn't go THAT far!

I almost would. I admire a business that appears courageous even if it's only for money. However, it's true that there will probably be backlash.

 

[JenM]

The little mermaid coff coff. Kids shunning a movie has nothing to do with adults taking them to see it. Hannah montana and all those! I read the report it attributing to girls because it had princess? I hardly think so. It's nice you can say your experts reported this? Who's going to say I didn't take my kids to it because of the color of her skin. I go to kids movies because I want to see it too. I rent all the other ones or send em with a friend. SPACE Buddies...

The Little Mermaid what? That movie is over 20 years old. Girls who liked it when it was new watch it with their daughters now. It's been a girl movie the whole time. If it was released today, post-Princess and the Frog, Disney would probably rethink the title for the same reason they changed the title of Tangled.

You can just Google "Princess and the Frog" and read theories why it didn't do as well as hoped (and keep in mind, it was a hit, with $267 million in ticket sales worldwide, and that's not counting DVD/merchandise sales, which probably brought in more than that)....it was the whole "princess" thing in the title, some groups didn't like the voodoo aspect of the story, which also created some controversy.

And some people just didn't like the movie. (not me, I loved it, own the blu-ray)

The point is, you can't blame racism (or the president, which is the silliest thing I've ever heard) as the only reason the movie had problems at the box office. There was a lot more going on there...and lots of people liked the movie just fine and buy the toys for their kids without thinking twice about it.

 

[JenM]

It's bizarre, but true with some people. I heard the same thing Frito mentioned. But I don't believe that's why the movie wasn't as big a hit as other Disney movies. I loved the story, but the songs...eh. Now the Lion King and IT'S songs.

As for the titles, Hannah Montana, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, etc did great with girly titles. I wonder, what has changed with kids that Disney has to take out the girly title to attract boys (Rapunzel to Tangled)? It never affected movie tickets before.

But back to Old Navy.

The Disney Princess line likely played a factor. They basically took all of their princesses and lumped them into one major brand, which is targeted right to girls. They have a whole section of the Disney Store website, they have that boutique in the parks.

We were watching an old Disneyland Fun Singalong Songs video with my nephew recently and we couldn't figure out at first why the park looked so much different. Then we realized...not only was it pre-Pixar, it was also before the Princesses took over.

Release a Disney movie with the word "Princess" in the title and people connect it with that and think boys won't like it.

Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty are from 50+ years ago, and Mary Poppins is from the early 60s...audiences were different, marketing was different, there were fewer choices at the movies. Plus those movies have been released and re-released, so they're practically tradition. Even Little Mermaid has reached that status now.

Hanna Montana is a girl movie all the way...it did well because a LOT of girls saw it.

I think it's silly, but I have a bunch of nephews and I know I couldn't drag most of them to a movie with the word "princess" in the title...even though the ones who did see it sheepishly admitted to liking it in spite of themselves.

 

[Beach Bunny]

why? Why the need?

 

[Aisling]

I almost would. I admire a business that appears courageous even if it's only for money. However, it's true that there will probably be backlash.

I'm not a fan of companies that use important issues for their own benefit, and I'm not meaning monetary. Old Navy is going for the "good guy of the year award". But even though I'm not a fan of that tactic, it's fine with me if they want to do it. I just don't fall for strategies like that, no disrespect meant to those who admire ON.

 

[Aisling]

why? Why the need?

It's a marketing strategy. I don't believe for a minute that ON gives a flip about the GLBT community.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I predict there will be some major backlash against Old Navy once this story gains more traction. I don't believe private companies should be engaging in campaigns to sway public opinion on a subject. Leave the politics to the politicians.

Campaigns to sway public opinion? Really? A handful of shirt designs at a handful of stores, urging people to be nice to each other and not to judge is a 'campaign to sway public opinion'? Dang! Then, among other things, all those pro sports teams better stop selling/officially authorizing team logo merchandise! I mean, those are all prime and perfect examples of campaigns to sway public opinion - yet nobody has any problem with them. What's wrong with a few t-shirts?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Did people embrace the first black Princess as much as they will embrace these shirts, No

I'm not sure I get the relationship. You're omitting a vital bit of information; you should be asking, "Did people embrace the first Disney movie about a fictional black Princess as much as...?"

That movie character is entirely different from real people just trying to go about their daily lives without being harassed.

 

[wtccheermom]

 

[mrsdon]

While I don't have a problem with any one in a gay/lesbian relationship. I won't buy a shirt promoting that lifestyle
I also won't stand pn a street corner yelling gay pride
But then again I won't beyelling kill the freaks either
But if yiou believe in a cause you have the right to promote it any way you chose.

 

[MamaJessie]

Hey I said I Loved the movie too. I thinks it's pretty obvious to anyone it was pretty absurd people's reasoning. I'm just sharing and sharing is caring.

I predict there will be some major backlash against Old Navy once this story gains more traction. I don't believe private companies should be engaging in campaigns to sway public opinion on a subject. Leave the politics to the politicians.

Politics? I didn't realize being gay was a political thing.

 

[ashley0139]

why? Why the need?

Why the need? Because there are still entirely too many people in this country who do not support everyone's right to equality. Because there are too many young gay people embarrassed about there sexuality that should absolutely not be. Because these young people need to know that there are people out there who support them. Because there is nothing about this fight for equality that isn't right, and if a big company wants to publicly get on board, then it's a step in the right direction. And because the rainbows are pretty!

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

I'm not sure I get the relationship. You're omitting a vital bit of information; you should be asking, "Did people embrace the first Disney movie about a fictional black Princess as much as...?"

That movie character is entirely different from real people just trying to go about their daily lives without being harassed.

Not really, because the truth is that a racist is going to take their child to see a movie with black characters. I missed the part where someone born a certain race other than Caucasian isn't trying to live their lives. I guess my only problem with the entire LGBT community is the amount of shoving in peoples faces that is going on these days. It's overkill on many levels. The civil rights movement wasn't this in your face IMHO. At some point the community has to realize, just like how some races have, that people are going to dislike you and hate you. Is it right NO but it just is. Yes, the It Gets Better campaign is great, it's subtle and supportive.

 

[skater]

While I don't have a problem with any one in a gay/lesbian relationship. I won't buy a shirt promoting that lifestyle
I also won't stand pn a street corner yelling gay pride
But then again I won't beyelling kill the freaks either
But if yiou believe in a cause you have the right to promote it any way you chose.

This I can agree with!