Newest Disney princess causes controversy
By Tribute on October 25, 2012 | 26 Comments
Disney’s newest princess, Sofia, has the Hispanic community up in arms. What started the uproar was when one of the producers of the film said Princess Sofia was a Latina, however, with fair skin and blue eyes, she doesn’t look Hispanic. “They’ve done such a good job in the past when they’ve introduced Native American, African-American and Asian princesses. They made a big deal out of it, and there was a lot of fanfare, but now they’re sort of scrambling. It’s unusual because Disney has been very good about Latino diversity,” spokeswoman Lisa Navarrete from the National Council of La Raza, told press. However, Craig Gerber, co-executive producer of the Disney film confirmed via Facebook that the princess is “a mixed-heritage princess in a fairytale world.” He clarified that Sofia’s mother and father come from kingdoms inspired by Spain and Scandinavia, but Sofia was raised in the fictional land of Enchancia. “Sofia considers herself a normal Enchancian girl like any other. Her mixed heritage and blended family are a reflection of what many children today experience.” ~Luxy Hariharan
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which makes sense because people from spain are fair skinned anyways, so I dont see what the problem is!!
If Sofia’s parents “come from kingdoms inspired by Spain and Scandinavia” then why does one of the producers of the film refer to her as a Latina?
I think Latinas got offended over nothing.
People have nothing else to do but complain ! BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. Bunch of winers !
She doesn’t look like a sweatback…..
Who cares? This is nothing to get upset about. Alot of Latinas are fair skinned. Get over yourselves.
I think it’s a valid complaint. Are there any actual Latina princesses? None that I know of. So that community thought they were finally going to represented, and Disney comes out with a fair-skinned blue eyed princess. The community probably thought that the traditional characteristics would be shown; not a modern type.
A person from Spain and a Scandinavian country is not mixed race.They are European.Disney to say this character is Latina is totally wrong.
Isn’t Jennifer Lopez a Spanish Princess?
There already is a latina spanish princess, her name is Dora!
For shame Disney… lol.
OMG I guess if you can’t do something 100% without possibly offending someone, then don’t do anything at all. Since this is likely a digitally made princess, go back and change the eye colour to brown or hazel and darken the skin colour a tad. Poof changed.
Really tho, this is silly stuff.
When I was a child, i just remember liking the cartoons. Not questioning their ethnic backgrounds. People get too worked up nowadays. Soon people will be complain that they’re offending by air.
I am sure Disney meant no offence – don’t spoil this movie for the children – who probably won’t think anything of her skin color.
Disney always gets screwed over for its representations of ethnicity– and for a good reason. Their company started off in the old days portraying African American’s in derogatory ways which actually is not that problematic because it was a standard way to depict blacks back then. But over the last century they haven’t showed too much intelligence in the way they portray people. This character is no exception- and quite frankly this all has to do with marketing. They probably see the Latino/ Latina demographic of their kids and want to target them (thats business and thats fine). What’s straight up wrong are the subliminal messages they send to the millions of browned skinned Mexican kids in the states who will surely be watching this: that this is what Latina beauty looks like: fair skin and a pretty much European look. Its all subliminal
People – get a grip. It is a fairy tale. Are your lives so empty that you have to latch onto something so trivial????
Disney just trying to make more money. Princess for every single race.
Disney just trying to make more money. Princess for every single race.
I thought Latina/Latino referred to Spanish speaking people, not just Mexicans. Enough of this skin and hair color crap. Americans come in all colors, races, and sizes and shapes. What’s next? Do we pull out brown-eyed blondes or blue eyed brunettes? It’s a Disney cartoon. It’s for little kids, not the parents who have chips on their shoulders.
They designed her so they can make money off merchandises, tv shows, and possibly movie deals with this character. It’s a chap gimmick by disney to pray on little kids.
I think it’s great that they are coming up with a new character for a new generation of kids and also to promote cultural diversity. I don’t see why people have to turn this into something negative.
I agree this character doesn’t signify the true Hispanic identity.
^^ yaaa… hispanic identity in AMERICA… but keep in mind these films are seen around the world. Latin ppl are not always olive skinned and brunettes w/ brown eyes… Argentinians and those from Spain… some of them are gorgeous blue-eyed blondes. GET OVER ITTTT
Disney is an american based company. There first intention is to target american latino girls. Get over yourself. Those gorgeous blue-eyes blondes you talk of are nothing but mixed races left over the Colonial days.
My 3 children are mixed, I am Ukranian/ Irish/ Scottish so I am quite fair, but olive tone to my skin and my husband is from Nicaragua. He has dark brown eyes as I do an a strong tan, however he had a sister born before him with blue eyes and my mother has green eyes. My daughter the eldest has a light tan, medium/dark hair and dark brown eyes, my middle child is a boy with dark tan, black hair and almost black eyes, then my youngest has very fair skin, but is always outside so he keeps a slight tan most of the year, has light brown hair (had blond hair as a child) and green eyes. I have met so many fair coloured Hispanics since becoming a member of the community. This is kinda reverse racisism, my eldest son, went to find his brother in grade 9 the youngest was grade 8 and kept leaving clothes at school so his older dark brother went to remind him before last class. This was only a couple months into the school year and both boys tended to keep with different friends most of the time. Just giving a bit of background. The older dark son found his brother in a classroom, bell had not yet rung, and proceeded to go to his brother to remind him about the clothes. The teacher ( for whom I would like to confront about this ), yelled across the filled room at the elder son ” who are you, and what are you doing in my class”, he responded, ” I came to remind my brother what my mom asked me too.” ” the teaches yelled back, again in front of a full classroom, ” who the hell do you think I am? Do you really think I am stupid enough to believe that is really your brother” I am telling this little story so you can imagine what I felt when I heard this happened ( a year later, after we moved away from the school, just because my boys didn’t want to upset me). I instantly remembered this while reading how the Latin community feels, sorry but the character is mixed and the sterio types you fight against daily are the same ones you are using to bring this argument. Please rethink your position.
@ M.Silva. This supposed racism that happened with your children is nothing but a misunderstanding. Kids like us screw with teachers all the time, and I don’t blame the teach for reacting the way he did. I would be quick to judge siblings if they looked different, to see whether or not they were messing with me. Aryan invasion is what caused the hispanics to be light skinned and blue eyed. Then again, it would be that white spaniards conquered Latin America thereby mixing with the darker skinned people there creating what we know call as Latinos. I mean, there is no real identity of the “latin” people. Even the language spoken across regions is not the same. GEt your facts straight.
onedirection#1fan ,
I actually do have my facts straight and I guess should have explained more. Here is a excerpt from the US Government definition of Latino
“People who identify their origin as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.” The Hispanic term is more correctly used in referring to persons from Spain. And this is an excerpt from trip Advisor regarding inhabitants of Spain
“The Truth About Spanish Stereotypes
All Spanish people have dark hair, dark eyes, and dark skin.
This stereotype is not true. Remember that the Vandals stayed in Spain for a short period, and the Visigoths stayed in Spain for centuries. These two tribes were Germanic tribes and they left their genes in Spain. Today there are many fair skinned people with light colored eyes and natural blond hair. It is said that the Celts, left Norht west Spain for Ireland, Wales and eventually Scotland.
The dark skin is not natural, and people who live in the South or along the Mediterranean coast may have a deep tan, but that is because they may spend a lot of time outdoors while the sun is shining. Also among all of the Spanish, a deep tan is a status symbol, meaning that one has the time and money to be vacationing on the beach.
Therefore, Disney’s representation of this character is correct and people, should check facts before getting upset about incorrect stereotypes.