Comedian Gabriel Iglesias Ridicules Cancel Culture and Defends Role as Speedy Gonzales
By Movieguide® Staff
Actor and comedian Gabriel Iglesias ridiculed cancel culture for their attack on one of his roles as the iconic Loony Tunes character Speedy Gonzales in SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY.
Iglesias, also known by his comedic nickname “Fluffy,” was born in Mexico and is set to voice the titular cartoon mouse in the SPACE JAM sequel.
“I am the voice of Speedy Gonzales in the new Space Jam,” Iglesias wrote on Twitter. “Does this mean they are gonna try to cancel Fluffy too? U can’t catch me cancel culture. I’m the fastest mouse in all of Mexico.”
I am the voice of Speedy Gonzales in the new Space Jam. Does this mean they are gonna try to cancel Fluffy too? U can’t catch me cancel culture. I’m the fastest mouse in all of Mexico 💨 pic.twitter.com/Ov4wjO00kM
— G a b r i e l – I g l e s i a s (@fluffyguy) March 7, 2021
Iglesias’ comment comes after a New York Times op-ed labeled Dr. Seuss, Looney Tunes, and other entertainment from the 20th century time as offensive, inappropriate and/or racist.
The opinion column, written by Charles Blow, dedicated a section to the SPACE JAM cast, including Speedy Gonzales and Pepé Le Pew, a skunk obsessed with finding love.
Movieguide® reported:
Warner Bros. dropped Pepe Le Pew, the Looney Tunes’ cartoon skunk, from several upcoming television projects and the studio’s sequel to the animated and live-action classic, SPACE JAM.
Although the studio announced the SPACE JAM 2 lineup change almost one year ago, a New York Times op-ed renewed the controversy. The op-ed titled “Six Seuss Books Bore Bias,” accused the skunk of having “normalized rape culture” and also discusses Dr. Seuss Enterprises’ decision to stop publishing six of the late author’s books.
“Some of the first cartoons I can remember included Pepé Le Pew, who normalized rape culture; Speedy Gonzales, whose friends helped popularize the corrosive stereotype of the drunk and lethargic Mexicans; and Mammy Two Shoes, a heavyset Black maid who spoke in a heavy accent,” columnist Charles M. Blow wrote.
While Iglesias will voice Speedy in the upcoming movie, Looney Tunes icon Mel Blanc voiced the mouse in 1953.
