Chris Evans Calls Lightyear Critics “Idiots” Over Controversy
Chris Evans has officially thrown his hat into the ring when it comes to where he stands on the controversy surrounding Lightyear, as he says those critics are "idiots."
Lightyear is set to debut in theaters this Friday, and much like most films these days, there is a bit of controversy attached to the newest Pixar venture. The controversy that surrounds the film has to do with same-sex marriage and a kiss between a lesbian couple. This is historic in that Disney has never openly shown this level of LGBT representation in their films. This has led to the film already being banned in the United Arab Emirates for portraying homosexuality. Chris Evans, star of Lightyear, recently spoke about his feelings towards people who oppose this new direction. According to the actor, “The real truth is those people are idiots.”
The idiots he is referring to are the people who get in the way of social advancement, and who take umbrage with two women kissing on screen. Chris Evans added, “Every time there’s been social advancement as we wake up, the American story, the human story is one of constant social awakening and growth and that’s what makes us good.” Disney has been attempting to add more representation in their films, especially considering the issues the company has recently faced with the “Don’t Say Gay” bill that had been passed in Florida. The bill led to droves of Pixar employees staging walkouts in California and Florida, as they claimed that Disney had long been trying to censor homosexual elements from their films.
Chris Evans more elegantly summed up his point with, “There’s always going to be people who are afraid and unaware and trying to hold on to what was before. But those people die off like dinosaurs,” he added, “I think the goal is to pay them no mind, march forward and embrace the growth that makes us human.” It sure sounds like Evans is joining in with the rest of the world in ushering in necessary change that will make the human race more empathetic. Disney has tried to hold on to its “squeaky-clean” image for decades, but the way of the world is far different now. Now the world is more accepting of different cultures and ways of living, at least we hope so. Disney needs to adapt and realize that a ton of people, including their own employees, come from different walks of life. And because of that, more people’s voices need to be heard.
Pixar and Disney allowing same-sex marriage to be displayed in Lightyear is a huge step forward, and the LGBT community has Chris Evans in its corner, just like most of us. One thing that Disney has been doing right is not caving to other countries’ demands when it comes to content in their films. Though they stand to lose out on potentially millions of dollars, they have been standing their ground. Allowing this film to stay true to its message is important, and it sounds like Evans wants his newest feature to stay true to its message as well.
Lightyear will blast into theaters on June 17th. The film follows Buzz Lightyear (Chris Evans), a real-life space ranger from Star Commander, who gets launched into the future because of a mission gone wrong. He meets the granddaughter of his former partner and must help her crew take down the evil Emperor Zurg. The film essentially follows the man who is the inspiration for the toy we all came to love in Toy Story. We can’t wait to see what this movie has to offer, especially for being groundbreaking in allowing same-sex marriage to be shown in such a good light.
