Pixar pushed to “de-gay” Inside Out 2

Pixar Execs Made Employees Scrub ‘Inside Out 2’ For Any Hints of Gayness

The release of Pixar’s "Inside Out 2" has stirred controversy over the studio’s handling of queer representation, revealing tensions and challenges faced during its production. The sequel, which debuted in June, follows Riley Andersen as she navigates puberty and grows up, meeting a new character, Val, along the way. While many speculated that Val might become a romantic interest for Riley, internal reports suggest the studio deliberately avoided any romantic implications.

Pixar employees have claimed they were told to make Riley ‘less gay’ on Inside Out 2 (Pixar)

Former Pixar employees, who were reportedly laid off during the film’s production, have disclosed that they were instructed to make Riley appear “less gay.” According to these sources, considerable effort was made to ensure Riley and Val’s relationship remained strictly platonic. This included adjustments to lighting and tone in certain scenes to minimize any hint of romantic chemistry.

The emphasis on removing queer elements reportedly stemmed from discomfort among studio executives with queer themes. Despite Riley’s ambiguous sexual orientation—never explicitly defined as queer in the original film—there were persistent efforts to downplay any inferred queerness. This reaction appears to be a direct response to the backlash faced by Pixar’s "Lightyear," which featured a brief same-sex kiss. The studio’s handling of "Lightyear" led to the belief that such moments could negatively impact a film’s success, influencing their approach to "Inside Out 2."

Critics argue that this strategy fails to acknowledge the broader context of why "Lightyear" may have underperformed. Moreover, the insistence on maintaining "universal" storytelling often results in sidelining queer narratives, despite the fact that straight audiences are routinely presented with heterosexual stories.

The situation highlights ongoing challenges within Pixar and the larger animation industry regarding LGBTQ+ representation. The struggles faced by the employees, who were passionate about telling inclusive stories, and the studio’s apparent reluctance to embrace queer themes suggest a need for greater transparency and commitment to diversity in media.