Sassy, yes. Sexy, no. Disney has pulled a redesign of “Brave” character Merida after facing backlash over the “sexy” makeover.
Disney had put up the new version of Merida for her “coronation” as a Disney princess on May 11. The new Merida looked thinner, had a fuller bust, and was wearing eye makeup. Her signature wild red curls were tamer, and she sported a sash instead of a bow and arrows.
The makeover received criticism from women's groups, who argued that Disney was sending the wrong message to girls. “Brave” writer and co-director Brenda Chapman called it “atrocious.” One group, A Mighty Girl, started a petition on Change.org.
“By making her skinnier, sexier and more mature in appearance, you are sending a message to girls that the original, realistic, teenage-appearing version of Merida is inferior; that for girls and women to have value -- to be recognized as true princesses -- they must conform to a narrow definition of beauty,” the petition stated.
Their voices were heard! As Jezebel notes, Disney quietly pulled the new Merida from the Disney Princess website and put up the original version of the character instead.
But the victory isn't complete. Jezebel notes that the other Disney princesses are still “victims of the same kind of redesign.”
“They look like ‘Real Housewives.'”
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