Rightwing pundit Ben Shapiro is causing eyes to roll en masse… again.
After attacking the 2022 Disney film Lightyear over a blink-and-you-missed-it kiss between two female characters, Shapiro has his sights set on the studio’s upcoming 2023 project, Strange World.
The “free speech warrior” is back to moaning about Disney’s supposed “not-at-all-secret gay agenda to target kids.” You know, the one where the private company gets to decide what they put in their films, and chooses to acknowledge the existence of gay people.
Related: José Andrés slams rightwing pundit Ben Shapiro’s anti-gay “nonsense”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Shapiro worked himself into a frenzy over the fact that Strange World will feature a gay teen romance, a first for a Disney animated feature.
Via Variety:
Walt Disney screened three sequences from Strange World. In the first, Ethan flirts with heartthrob Diazo while friends from school look on, teasing in a friendly and warm-hearted way. Much to Ethan’s chagrin, his dad Searcher soon joins in, embarrassing his son with an overeager show of acceptance.
“As Disney begins pushing ‘Strange World’ for next week’s release, here’s the reminder that their ‘not-at-all-secret gay agenda’ to target kids is ongoing,” Shapiro tweeted. “It’s a part of the plot of this movie, just as it was with ‘Lightyear.’ Your kids, your choice.”
As Disney begins pushing "Strange World" for next week's release, here's the reminder that their "not-at-all-secret gay agenda" to target kids is ongoing. It's a part of the plot of this movie, just as it was with "Lightyear." Your kids, your choice. https://t.co/lMjsaDF8Lp
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) November 15, 2022
He followed that up with this manic string of nonsense:
This is, once again, Face Tattoo Syndrome™.
“Look how important this is! It’s so important! IT’S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND GROUNDBREAKING!!!!!1!”
“Oh yeah, I think that’s bad.”
“WHY ARE YOU EVEN NOTICING YOU BIGOT?!!?!?!!”
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) November 15, 2022
It’s a strange world, indeed.
Not that they’re listening, but Shaprio and those who agree with his ridiculous premise don’t seem to realize that LGBTQ representation does not create more queer youth, but it does help the ones who are struggling to accept themselves see that they aren’t alone.
If Disney’s “targeting” anyone, it’s more likely to be homophobic parents, presenting them with positive portrayals of queer acceptance.
A 2020 UCLA study estimates there are roughly two million LGBTQ youth between the ages of 13-17 in the U.S. alone. And a 2022 Trevor Project survey found that LGBTQ youth who live in a community that is accepting of LGBTQ people reported significantly lower rates of attempting suicide than those who do not.
Representation matters, period.
It didn’t take much for folks to blow up Shapiro’s argument:
imagine representing the way the world actually is in movies
— Zach ✡️⚡️🚀 (@back2bolts) November 15, 2022
Oh no! Now some kids might believe that love is love instead of being hateful for no reason!
— Jack of all tirades (@misterranty) November 15, 2022
Gay people existing = secret agenda lol
— Blue (@JJForHeisman1) November 15, 2022
It’s almost as if they want kids with 2 moms or 2 dads to feel included in culture. Oh the horror.
— Heritage Druid (@druid_heritage) November 15, 2022
Ben Shapiro, an activist hero of choice, unless he disagrees, then it’s an evil agenda.
— Omnes sumus responsible (@reusomnibus) November 15, 2022
So, is every other teen romance part of the straight agenda?
If you really want to alienate youth, keep it up with the paranoid intolerance of Disney movies!
— Josh Hebert (@jrhebert70) November 15, 2022
Understanding the fact that gay people exist and that it’s perfectly okay that they do isn’t a “gay agenda”. It’s humanity.
No surprise that you don’t get it.
— PragmaticNYC (@pragmaticNYC) November 15, 2022
Accurate real world representation= secret agenda
— honest sports takes (@honestsportz) November 15, 2022
Strange World arrives in theaters on November 23.
Watch the trailer below:
Dijonaise
Once again we are faced with the fact that many of our own worst enemies are self hating queers.
Vince
A Jewish guy + Nazi’s. The Republican party sure brings together strange bedfellows. Squeaky voiced Damien once again being hypocritical as all eff.
Invader7
@ Vince: We all KNOW how the gop brings together VERY strange bedfellows. VERY strange indeed. The crazy part is some of them ARE possibly screwing each other-which is creepy and nauseating . Plus the visual is just gross. Like Josh Hawley and Tom Cotton doing each other.. Yep..the GOP in 2022 ..All the Way… Go Repubs…Their new campaign slogan for 2022 and beyond : Republicans Do One Another . We’re Mad for Each Other ..
dbmcvey
Yeah, Shapiro, like Dave Rubin and other conservative people from racial, religious and sexual minorities all fool themselves into believing their conservative “friends” really care about them, and then they’re shocked to find out they’re just being used to provide cover.
Invader7
Ben Shapiro = par for the course aka the authoritarian fascist Neo Nazi totalitarian gop party. ALL hypocrites. And Miss Shapiro is raging that society must produce more babies. NO Ben. The planet is OVER populated and that is going to kill numerous creatures on this Earth including people ..Possibly self anointed Holier Than Thou Types like Ben Shapiro…. He looks unbalanced and off.. Just off !! Like a LOT of other republicans these days .. Off balance and out of their fricking minds..
strix1
Sometimes you just have to close off that noise in your peripheral vision.
BrownFriedRice
No body thinks about gay sex more than conservatives. They are OBSESSED with us.
dbmcvey
They especially seem obsessed with trans women.
inbama
Can we please not call out Jewish conservatives by complaining that as Jews “they should know better?”
There’s a word for that: Antisemitism.
Its just as disgusting as those among us who will attack a black conservative as an “Uncle Tom” who should “know better.”
Making statements like that does not challenge Shapiro’s ideas – it challenges his religion. White people attacking black conservatives as “illegitimate” are attacking their race.
We need to treat people as we wish to be treated: WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
scotty
ben just suck a dick or many dicks already. the ones who protest the loudest ARE deepest in the closet.