Lightyear Writer Defends Lesbian Couple After Snoop Dogg Criticism

Rapper Snoop Dogg recently expressed discomfort over a brief lesbian couple scene in Pixar's 2022 film Lightyear, sharing that the moment confused his grandson and made him hesitant to take his grandchildren to the movies. Lauren Gunderson, one of the writers who contributed to Lightyear, publicly defended the inclusion of the lesbian couple, stating that representing diverse love was important and that she was proud the scene remained in the film. Despite the scene's brevity, Gunderson emphasized its significance for representation, explaining that writing a female partner for a key character was a natural choice during the script development. Lightyear, which faced criticism and underperformed at the box office, has become a focal point in discussions about LGBTQIA representation in children's media, with Snoop Dogg's comments reigniting debate. The controversy has also brought renewed attention to past remarks by Chris Evans, the voice of Buzz Lightyear, made before the film's release. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between efforts to include queer representation in family entertainment and differing audience reactions to such content.