Animated Movie Creates Media Uproar Over Body Shaming
By Olivia Brown, Contributing Writer
Has Hollywood marketing gone too far this time?
A promotional movie poster for the upcoming computer animated film, RED SHOES AND THE 7 DWARFS received backlash when a plus sized model, Tess Holliday, blasted the movie’s marketing team for body shaming. The movie is based on the Disney character Princess Snow White, who is short and overweight, but magically becomes tall and thin by wearing a pair of red shoes.
Holliday tweeted a picture of the RED SHOES AND THE 7 DWARFS poster at the Cannes Film Festival to her tens of thousands of Twitter followers on May 30. The poster shows a skinny version of Snow White next to overweight one with the words, “What if Snow White was no longer beautiful and the 7 Dwarfs not so short?”
Tess Holliday wrote alongside the photograph, “How did this get approved by an entire marketing team?” She adds, “Why is it okay to tell young kids being fat = ugly?” Holliday tagged actress Chloe Grace Moretz, who stars as Snow White in the film, on her tweet in hopes of a response.
The following day, Moretz replied, “I am just as appalled and angry as everyone else. This wasn’t approved by me or my team.” She calls the script “beautiful” and “powerful for young women,” regardless of the poor marketing. Moretz adds that the movie poster was “beyond my creative control.”
Some online fans are still outraged, despite Moretz’s attempts to reassure the public she doesn’t approve of the marketing campaign. A fan tweeted Moretz, “There is no justification of this. It is the PLOT, right? My daughter WILL NOT be seeing this.”
The animated movie was produced by Locus Corporation, a studio located in South Korea. The company quickly released a statement that apologized and said it was ending the advertising campaign.
Disturbingly, the movie’s advertising goes against a Christian worldview where self-worth is found, in God (see Genesis 1:27), and the fact that beauty lies in one’s strength of character first and foremost. In addition to rejecting biblical values, promoting a negative body image can lead to psychological disorders such as depression and even deadly eating disorders.
The movie RED SHOES AND THE 7 DWARFS is aimed toward children, who are most susceptible to the effects of body shaming because negative body image often starts at a young age.
In the midst of negativity toward bodies, how is this affecting children and teenagers? If marketing campaigns for movies like RED SHOES AND THE 7 DWARFS say that a person really isn’t beautiful if they aren’t thin, will the next generation of children grow up hating how God has created them?
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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