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Docter Defends LGBTQ Cuts as Reports Say Pixar Canceled ‘BeFri’

Pixar says the changes reflect a data‑driven bid for broader appeal, a stance now drawing sharp criticism inside and outside the studio.

Overview

  • In a Wall Street Journal interview, chief creative officer Pete Docter defended removing queer elements from Elio, saying, “We’re making a movie, not hundreds of millions of dollars of therapy.”
  • Early versions of Elio reportedly included a storyline in which a future Elio raises a son who develops a male crush; director Adrian Molina departed during a 2023 overhaul and Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi took over.
  • Multiple outlets report Pixar shelved BeFri, a Kristen Lester feature about a platonic friendship breakup between two girls, with roughly 50 staffers said to have worked on it for three years.
  • Director Joseph Kahn labeled the trend the “De‑Gayification of Disney” as online commenters criticized Docter’s wording and recent project changes.
  • Leadership has pointed to test‑screen results and box‑office outcomes, highlighting Elio’s weak performance and Hoppers’ stronger opening weekend.