Oh, goodie, a video!
You guys, I wanted to like this. I really wanted to like this. After all, it’s DISNEY. How could Disney go wrong?
Well…I think Disney went wrong.
In case you don’t know the backstory, Disney recently teamed up with high-end department store Barneys. This week, they finally released the “Electric Holiday” digital short film as part of their campaign. How fun! Our favorite Disney gals all glammed up! Check out Minnie getting all cute and smizing on the staircase!
And just when I thought Minnie would get to strut her stuff down the big-time runway, exactly as she is, Disney dropped the ball. Or more specifically, Tinkerbell dropped a curtain of magical skinny powder.
One step through and suddenly Minnie–along with Daisy, Snow White, and even Mickey Mouse himself–was given one serious slim-down.
If there’s anything ”America’s Next Top Model” and ”Project Runway” have taught us, it’s that in the fashion industry you’re nobody until you sashay down a runway. Apparently not even Disney’s most beloved characters are good enough to do this without losing weight first.
Of course, I know this isn’t the message that Disney and Barneys were trying to send, but what will kids think when they see that being thin was the final step to make Minnie Mouse’s dreams come true?
Apparently I’m not the only one concerned. A petition on Change.org asking Barneys and Walt Disney World to “leave Minnie Mouse alone” has garnered over 140,000 supporters who recognize that these kinds of unintentional media messages contribute to body image issues and ultimately eating disorders.
I for one would love to hear a response from the two companies, even just acknowledging that they took a misstep.
What do you think about the skinnified Minnie? Share your thoughts in the comments!
