Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore, Flickr.
It has been a popular topic in recent news that famous characters like Minnie Mouse and the green M&M are getting an update to their typical looks. Minnie Mouse is known for her classic red dress with polka dots, the green M&M for white go-go boots and the brown M&M for white stilettos.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Disneyland Paris, Minnie Mouse will trade this red dress for a blue pantsuit designed by Stella McCartney. The M&M’s are trading in their white go-go boots and stilettos for casual white sneakers and trendy block heels.
According to CNN, Minnie’s “full makeover will be unveiled in March to commemorate two different dates: International Women’s Day and the 30th anniversary of Disneyland Paris.” This is not a permanent change for the famed character, rather a temporary celebratory outfit change to commemorate two important events.
Mars, the company that owns M&M’s, reported they are “creating a world where everyone feels they belong and society is inclusive,” according to The Today Show. They began this mission of inclusivity by getting rid of their characters’ shoes.
This is a change that most people would deem as either positive or entirely neutral. Then, there are the people who view this as the “liberalization” of the media.
People like Candace Owens seem to be taking the temporary change in attire for Minnie Mouse hard. She went on the show “Jesse Watters Primetime” to share her disgust for this change. “They’re making her more masculine,” Owens said, adding that having Minnie Mouse wear a pantsuit is an attempt to “destroy the fabrics of our society.”
The brown and green M&Ms exchanging of their footwear for something that is more comfortable seems to have dredged up some intense anger from people like Tucker Carlson.
According to Insider, Carlson went on his show to complain about this change. “M&M’s will not be satisfied until every last cartoon character is deeply unappealing and totally androgynous until the moment you wouldn’t want to have a drink with any one of them,” Carlson said. “That’s the goal. When you’re totally turned off, we’ve achieved equity. They won.”
Why does Carlson feel the need to go on television and complain about not feeling sexually attracted to a cartoon M&M? And why does Candace Owen hold the bizarre belief that Minnie Mouse temporarily wearing a pantsuit in Disneyland Paris is destroying the fabric of society?
Conservative media is always accusing changes like these as liberalization of the media. If women aren’t wearing dresses and any female characters are not sexually attractive… this means that the liberals are taking over.
Why has this been politicized? Why does the wardrobe choice of a cartoon character cause such an uproar?
Twitter User @PlanBianca puts it best in her tweet, “Why is Fox News obsessed with cartoons? Tucker Carlson about m&m changing the green candy from boots 2 sneakers, Candace Owens chirping about Minnie Mouse wearing a pant suit designed by Stella McCartney. I can’t with these people. How about actually reporting the actual NEWS.”
Twitter user @Krivef added to the mockery of Tucker Carlson, “Green M&M has filed a restraining order against @TuckerCarlson.”
Twitter User @acnewsistics mocked Candace Owens for her anger towards Minnie Mouse wearing a pantsuit, “So it’s okay for Candace Owens to wear a pantsuit but not Minnie Mouse?” including a photo of Owens in a pantsuit.
The anger that was expressed by Carlson and Owens caused a backlash of mockery by people on the internet.
Begging the question, why do people care if the wardrobe of cartoon characters changes over time?
agiampag@ramapo.edu
