“Boycott Disney” Trends as It Joins Target and Bud Light as a Canceled “Woke” Company

Twitter seems to be pulling a reverse Uno card on canceling big corporations, and Disney is the next boycott subject.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic was in full effect, a cultural division has emerged, seemingly splitting the country into two camps. While a shift to sensitivity characterized 2020, “cancel culture” came about, holding companies like Chick-fil-A accountable for supporting anti-LGBTQ+ lobbyists.

Conservative-Canceled Corporations

More recently, the pendulum has swung in the other direction, with corporate giants getting steamrolled on social media by conservatives and classified as “woke.”

Related: On Memorial Day Weekend, Rumors Spread Disney is Replacing the American Flag With a Pride Flag

On April 1, a transgender influencer named Dylan Mulvaney promoted Bud Light on TikTok, where they openly shared about their transition. When the post reached viewers, conservative voices like Kid Rock initiated a Bud Light boycott simply because the influencer was transgender.

Over a month later, as Pride Month-themed items hit the shelves of Target, the popular chain quickly became another cancel target. After several legislative moves against the LGBTQ+ community nationwide, the corporation received threats causing Target to move LGBTQ+ merchandise in its Pride displays. In a statement with the Associated Press (AP), Target shared:

Since introducing this year’s collection, we’ve experienced threats impacting our team members’ sense of safety and wellbeing while at work. Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans.

In addition to Target and Bud Light, Disney is no stranger to backlash about its political stances. After voicing support for the LGBTQ+ community in response to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, Disney came toe-to-toe with conservatives opposing its view.

Now, before Pride Month has even struck the calender, Disney is trending under #BoycottDisney once again.

Related: DeSantis Raises “Don’t Say Gay” Stakes, What Will Disney Do Next?

A Bibbidi Bobbidi Blunder

Today, at Disneyland, a Guest filmed a Cast Member welcoming aspiring Disney princesses to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. The recording wasn’t shared to promote a magical Disney moment, though. The post on Twitter ignited a conservative uproar, featuring an LGBTQ+ community member wearing a dress, saying:

My name is Nick. I’m one of the fairy godmothers.

Twitter user @jonesville emboldened the hashtag with the post stating:

Disney has a man in a dress working in the dress store for little girls at Disneyland. This is who Disney wants girls to see when they first walk in to pick out a dress.

Disney has a man in a dress working in the dress store for little girls at Disneyland. This is who Disney wants girls to see when they first walk in to pick out a dress. pic.twitter.com/Ta2dwyAaSa

— Jason Jones (@jonesville) May 30, 2023

While several conservative accounts have shared the video intending to “cancel” Disney, others have come to the Cast Member’s defense. A post supporting Disney by ​​@DIFDWill said:

Why #BoycottDisney ? All I see on my time line is a confident and gorgeous individual spreading joy to thousands of young people on a daily basis. It wasn’t a problem until some cruel misguided person decided to record a hardworking and kind hearted person doing their job.

https://twitter.com/DIFDWill/status/1663551342517043203

With fierce responses to members of the LGBTQ+ community being represented in large corporations, it appears Disney is in for a controversial Pride Month.