Exhibit on fat falls flat
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Disney's new Habitat Heroes website is down for maintenance...
And by "maintenance," Disney actually means "we're shutting it down because people complained it made fun of fat kids."
The EPCOT exhibit was intended, Disney says, to promote healthy lifestyles in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield. It didn't come off that way, however.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
"We're appalled to learn that Disney, a traditional hallmark of childhood happiness and joy, has fallen under the shadow of negativity and discrimination," the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance said.
"It appears that Disney now believes that using the tool of shame, favored so much by today's healthcare corporations, is the best way to communicate with children," the association's statement said, accusing Disney of being bullies.
The "villains" in the exhibit look like this, according to the blog, Weighty Matters.
[image]
"I mean if your kid's not overweight or obese, here's to Disney reinforcing society's most hateful negative obesity stereotyping, and if they are overweight or obese - what kid doesn't want to be made to feel like a personal failure while on a Disney family vacation?" Yoni Freedhoff, who writes the blog, said.
Dear reader,
Your voice matters. And we want to hear it.
Will you help shape the future of Minnesota Public Radio by taking our short Listener Survey?
It only takes a few minutes, and your input helps us serve you better—whether it’s news, culture, or the conversations that matter most to Minnesotans.
