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Many fans expressed their frustration over Disney's approach, viewing it as an act of cultural appropriation—taking a beloved, community-driven celebration and turning it into a commercial entity. Comments like "Disney is a culture-stealer, not a creator" and "They don't own May the 4th" became common themes.
Further, accusations grew that Disney was attempting to monopolize fan content for profit, with some equating the company's actions to copyright overreach. The phrase "Disney steals culture and replaces it with copyright" was frequently echoed across social media.
The Unintended Consequences
Rather than generating excitement, Disney's promotional efforts backfired spectacularly. Instead of fostering community engagement, they ignited widespread criticism and ridicule.