Part 10/12:
Lightyear’s writer, Lauren Gunderson, defended her decision to include a lesbian couple, revealing she initiated the representation back in 2018—long before the controversy erupted—calling it her “creative choice” that aimed to normalize LGBTQ relationships for children. Nevertheless, the backlash and the box office failure reveal a significant disconnect between Hollywood’s social messaging and mainstream audience preferences.
Industry and Audience Divide
The controversy extends beyond Snoop Dogg. The same day, reports surfaced that Disney executives and Pixar staff were unhappy with the curtailed LGBTQ scenes, leading to internal disputes and calls for creative honesty. Meanwhile, Disney’s own attempts to "dial back" these themes clearly suggest a recognition of market rejection.