Fashion model Kendall Jenner decided to celebrate Halloween by dressing as a character from the iconic “Toy Story” children’s films, but catalyzed harsh criticism for her costume transforming the character from innocent to racy.
Jenner, who boasts 262 million Instagram followers, posted photos of herself as the cowgirl Jessie, but instead of wearing the character’s traditional chaps over a pair of jeans, the costume featured Jenner wearing cow print chaps over hot pants, leaving some of her derriere exposed, as well as a bare midriff and bare shoulders.
“This is ridiculous. It’s Halloween, and you’re just sexualizing a child’s character,” one Instagram follower wrote in response.
Some other sample comments: “That’s just wrong 🤯 kids movie, nothing cute about this.” “Sorry but, in my opinion (despite you care about or not) it’s not appropriate to make everything hottie n sexy, leave something for kids for god’s sake.” “Ruins a childhood movie.” “Oh now we’re sexualizing Kids animations Ayy?” “Why sexualize a character that is for children??? Seriously, why???”
Toy Story’s innocent approach has been criticized before; in June 2019, a writer named Stella Duffy told the BBC, as the Daily Mail reported, that the film was sexist and racist. Speaking of Toy Story 4, she declared, “Seriously, it’s 2019! What on Earth are Disney doing having a film that has no leads that are black characters?”’
“Yes, there are black actors, but they are yellow and they are green and they are plush! How can they possibly think that it’s alright now?” she complained. “How can they possibly think that it’s alright now? Yeah, maybe in 1995 – which was also wrong then, as well, actually – but now, to be serious, where every single humanoid toy, is white? It’s just shocking!”
“Okay, let’s talk about the white feminism on display here. Oh look! Bo-Peep’s a feminist. No she’s not! She’s still going to fall in love, she’s still going to have the happily ever after, that’s not feminism!” Duffy continued. “It’s a woman who kicks off her skirt to reveal bloomers. Had a couple of thoughts… and does some high wire acts.”
