Streep trashes Walt Disney - I knew there was a reason not to go to her movies.

[DisneyKevin]

Well not quite no one. I'm sure there're a number of people who admire Meryl, and will half way believe almost anything she says. Many of these people believe almost everything they here on TV, if the right people say them. It really doesn't matter what she said. I don't really care if it were true. It's the principal of the matter, actors with their star power, spouting personal opinions and views with there given un-due platforms.

Everyone is allowed to have an opinion.

As you and I (and everyone else) are allowed to voice our's here, Meryl is allowed to voice hers, even though she has a larger audience.

I am almost certain that if you and I had a larger platform, we'd be just as willing to share our opinions as we are now.

With this, I am going to bow out of this conversation, as I have little else to add.

 

[goofy4tink]

Completely disagree. Yes anyone can give their opinion about anything, including actors. In the coffee shop yes, talking to friends, yes, but here's the problem and an example.

If I had done years of research and had irrefutably evidence that Walt Disney wasn’t Anti-Semitic in any way, and didn’t distrust women, though I got up and made a statement and gave my opinion, first of all, I wouldn’t have a microphone, secondly nobody would listen, or even care.

Forget Meryl Streep. If Ashton Kutcher gives his opinion publicly about the same subject, or any subject, his adoring, idolizing fans will listen, and many times are influenced because of who he is.

Why are the opinions of actors more important, more insightful, or more knowledgeable about anything. They are given an un-due platforms because of their stardom, and they have the power to influence public opinion because of it, which is wrong.

And you are free to disagree. But I think back to the days when Jane Fonda was spouting anti-war stuff. She used her 'platform'. Big deal. Give people some credit for being able to discern truth. Athletes and movie stars have been spouting their opinions, right or wrong, for years! Most intelligent people come to their own conclusions.
Nobody that I know of thinks movie stars are 'more insightful, or more knowledgable' than anyone else.
Who cares what Meryl Streep thinks? Not me or anyone else I know. It's a huge non-issue.
Like Kevin, nothing new to be said. Bowing out.

 

[hookedonears]

Everyone is allowed to have an opinion.As you and I (and everyone else) are allowed to voice our's here, Meryl is allowed to voice hers, even though she has a larger audience.

I am almost certain that if you and I had a larger platform, we'd be just as willing to share our opinions as we are now.
With this, I am going to bow out of this conversation, as I have little else to add.

1 very true, agree 100%. It's the manner inwhich those opinions are expressed that I'm objecting to.

2 True, we're human. I doubt I'd be above letting that kind of power from going to my head either.

3 Done on this topic as well.

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

Meryl Streep has a right to her opinion, well-informed or ill-informed may it be. My opinion is that it was poor judgment to use this particular occasion in which she was presenting an award to a fellow actress as a platform to express these views. Save it for the Red Carpet this Sunday. Don't steal Emma's thunder.

Laurie

 

[Susan R]

I would love to have a discussion with her about why she has this opinion about Walt Disney. Or rather, why she is so passionate about it. It appears to me that even if the corporation's founder felt this way, it's not the company's practice now. Quite simply, because we've evolved as a society.

If she just wanted to take a pot shot at someone who isn't around anymore, I would love to play the devil's advocate with her and ask why she would play Margaret Thatcher, a person who many consider a war criminal.

In the end, I don't mind her giving her opinion, if nothing else, it might prompt some people to research Walt Disney and learn more about the man as a whole.

Susan

 

[kimbo0569]

For me, this is such a non-issue. This is America. People are entitled to give their opinions. If it's a movie star, so be it. If it's a sports star, so be it. If it's my next door neighbor, again, so be it. I give no more credence to what a movie star says than I do anyone else! Now, if I know them to be well versed in a particular area, then sure. I'll listen to what they have to say.
As far as Walt Disney goes? He was a product of his time. Geez, many men held the exact same ideas. Nothing new there. Walt Disney was a hugely successful man....of course there are going to be people, both then and now, taking pot shots at him. Have at it. I'm sure he wouldn't have been bothered by it in the least. People change as they grow. Did Walt Disney? Probably. I was a teenager when he died. I didn't pay any attention to the kind of man he was. I doubt many did. But, he seems to be up on some kind of pedestal nowadays...as if he was perfect...he wasn't. We are always hearing...'What would Walt think of that' or 'Walt is probably spinning in his grave'. Seriously? Walt knew that things change, that companies have to make money. He was an incredibly gifted artist, with a great business sense. Of course he is going to be targeted.
But I certainly don't much care what Meryl Streep has to say about him or his business practices. I enjoy her acting abilities and love going to the movies she is in..but there it ends.

Could not have said it better myself!

 

[North of Mouse]

Because no one cares what Meryl Streep thinks of Walt Disney.

I agree!

And if anyone would believe her and decides to not go to Disney - GREAT!!

Their loss! They probably didn't go anyway. The crowds will always reflect how many people love Disney.

Who Meryl Streep is will not affect my thinking on 'any' subject.

 

[bluecruiser]

Came across this article today.

While there are surely many things that the actress Meryl Streep can do well, critical thinking and historical research will not appear at the top of that list anytime soon. At the National Board of Review dinner a few nights ago, Streep made headlines when she bashed Walt Disney while presenting the best actress award to Emma Thompson, for her role as P.L. Travers in the Walt Disney biopic Saving Mr. Banks.

As part of a nearly ten-minute speech, Streep lobbed countless nasty, well-worn accusations at Disney, characterizing him as a racist, an anti-Semite, and a ‘gender-bigot.’ Her demonization of Disney was wildly applauded all over, but for all her frankness, she displayed massive ignorance about both Walt Disney’s life and American history. Every statement she made about Disney was either grossly distorted or outright false. Here’s a fact-check of Streep’s Walt-bashing:

Fact-Checking Meryl Streep’s Disney-Bashing Speech

 

[SamSam]

Came across this article today.



Fact-Checking Meryl Streep’s Disney-Bashing Speech

Excellent article, thanks for sharing it.

 

[DisneyDetective]

It's also easy to trash someone when they are no longer living and can't defend themselves.

And if you want to read about horrid studios CEOs look at people like Louis B. Mayer or the Warner Brothers.

I respect Streep as an actress but I disagree with her greatly. I think that a lot of media have a negative responce to Disney. I read a couple weeks someone having a opinion about Saving Mr. Banks and trashing Disney. He also said he would like to see a world where kids didn't go to Disney animated films. He ignored that fact that if it wasn't for Disney he wouldn't have any animated flicks to speak of. Disney was the first to prove that you can make an animated films for over an hour and people will come to see them.

I am not one of those people who think Disney is perfect but come on. It's like he's supposed to be a saint and everyone else is allowed to be "complicated."

Great post!