Disney ‘Primos’ Star Draws Criticism for Response to Racist Backlash

Disney has recently released the intro theme song for their new animated series Primos coming to the Disney Channel and Disney+ streaming service. Since then, social media has blown up with members of the Latino community heavily criticizing the upcoming show. The hostility towards Primos eventually caused Disney to remove the intro song from most social media pages.

Myrna Velasco, the voice actor behind Primo‘s main character, has responded to the criticism. Her one-minute video has added fuel to an already heated situation. Let’s break down what is causing the Disney Primos backlash and what Myrna Velasco says about it.

Grammatically Incorrect Spanish Terms and Stereotypes

Primos is set to make its debut on Disney Channel and Disney+ this fall. Disney’s official description of the show is as follows:

From Emmy Award-nominated creator and executive producer Natasha Kline, “Primos” introduces Tater Ramirez Humphrey, an eccentric girl with big dreams, determined to find what makes her extraordinary. When her 12 chaotic cousins (“primos” in Spanish) move in for the summer, they help her discover her true self. The series is inspired by Kline’s childhood experiences with her extended multicultural Mexican American family.

The uploaded theme song for the show features Velasco’s Tater character shouting “¡Oye! ¡Primos!” multiple times. Some in the Latino community have pointed out that this phrase variation should use the word “oigan” as it is the plural form.

Other criticisms against the show include calling attention to the stereotype of multiple extended family members living under one roof. Some cousins’ names are also questionable at best (the youngest’s name is Spanish slang for a female private part in some countries.) Furthermore, the city’s name translates to “Earthquake Heights,” which is a poor choice when Mexico has a long history of devastating earthquakes.

Myrna Velasco took to her social media to comment on the issue, increasing the outrage over the show:

The Spanish language is not a Latin-American language. It’s a language the Spanish conquistadors forced upon Latin American people. The only reason we’re Latin people and not Native American people is because of that distinction. So be mad at me all you want for mispelling words in Spanish. Be mad at me all you want for mispronouncing words in Spanish. That doesn’t take away from the fact that I am a Mexican-American Native-American woman.

Defenders of the series have cited that it is based on the childhood of its creator, a Mexican-American woman who grew up near Los Angeles, California. They argue that growing up as a Latin-American person in America offers different experiences with the language. Velasco ends her comments by saying:

We’re trying to make a good show for kids. For kids that feel left out. For kids that are different. For kids who don’t have a full grasp on any language no matter where they live. And if you’re going to be mad at that, I don’t know [sic], be mad then.

Related: Disney ‘Primos’ Pilot Leaked, Angry Critics Demand Immediate Cancellation

Y’all, Tater’s voice actor responded to the show’s criticism#primos #DisneyChannel pic.twitter.com/wA4a2WfguJ

— Juan Aguilar (@JuanAgu21791447) June 14, 2023

People on Twitter have responded angrily to her words, which they believe come across as condescending and smug. They also point out the irony that she makes these remarks while speaking English.

These issues caused Disney to take the theme song down on Facebook and Twitter. It can still be viewed on Youtube, however.

https://youtu.be/vPY8gk4QHrw

Disney has yet to comment on the controversy, and the series is still set to debut on streaming and television later this year.