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Apparently I am the only person in North America who doesn’t care what Miley Cyrus did or did not wear in some dumb magazine, or anything she does anywhere else for that matter. But Disney is outraged, Bill O’Reilly is outraged, everybody’s outraged about the supposed sexualization of a 15-year-old girl. Even Deceiver is a little bit outraged! Disney has sent lil’ Miley into hiding to try to protect their franchise from the media storm.
But that’s just in the West. In China, apparently Disney is a lot more nonchalant about kids showing too much skin. Daniel Brooks, writing in Slate, brings news of a creepy Chinese ad campaign for Disney underwear, featuring an even younger girl in bra and panties. When he asked Disney about it, in light of their reaction to this Miley Cyrus debacle, a Disney spokesman said the Chinese ad (which is months old) was an oversight on their part and would be discontinued immediately. That’s great, but if Disney is so concerned with their kid-friendly image, why are they letting this stuff happen in the first place?
Why do they let it happen in the first place? Publicity. The more publicity generated, good or bad, the more money they make. You have to wonder if there is something in a Disney slave’s contract that prevents them from this sort of thing. I doubt that there is, because when there is a whoooopsie, they are thrust into the spotlight, which is where they want to be.
When actors in the Golden Age were all under contract to a studio, those contracts outlined exactly what sort of image they were meant to project and would cover up any “wrongdoing” at whatever cost. If Disney were serious about protecting their little money makers, they would do the same.
No, you’re not the only one who doesn’t care what Miley Cyrus did or did not wear in some magazine. In fact I don’t care about Miley Cyrus at all.
So true Chronic, about the old contracts. And we all remember Annette and her covered navel in the beach-blanket movies. The telling moment in Disney’s reply, is that they knew about the “oversight” (that their huge advert dept conceived of and approved) months ago, but are only now pulling it because it was noticed outside of China. OK.
BTW, this is a great site.
So it’s ok to exploit little Chinese kids.
You mentioned the very example that came to mind Capcom when you mentioned Annette. She was actually not even allowed to appear in those movies wearing a bikini. A navel would have been scandalous. While I feel that those sorts of restrictions are a bit over the top, especially when we’re talking about the 60’s, it might be sensible in the modern day simply because the trouble these Disney girls get into so publically now go far beyond a bellybutton. I don’t even feel Miley has done anything wrong. If anything, they should be more worried about the other pics of her floating around the ‘net, not this. However, the Spears sisters and Lindsay have covered pretty much everything from rehab to teenage pregnancy at this point.
But yeah, Disney wants any publicity, not just the good publicity. Scandal makes money.
I remember something about Annette. I thought I heard they found pieces of her contracts in the K-T Boundary. You know. Cuz she’s old.
I could honestly give two s***s and a f*** about what Miley Montana is doing. I didn’t see the big deal behind the pictures, but I also don’t give a s*** who is for or against her decision.
Honestly, I felt more creeped out by the picture with her father. I love my father, and I will always be a Daddy’s girl - butt that one just sent chills down my spine. Yuck.
Either way, I will not start watching Hannah Montana, I will not start giving a f*** what this little brat is doing, and if THIS was such a big deal and she apologized about it right away (which seems really f’n fishy to me, anyone else?) where were the apologies about the pictures of her in her bra? It just makes no sense to me whatsoever.
When a company goes to China it’s like going to Las Vegas and I’m sure these companies wish what happened in China stayed in China.
Ah, I don’t know. The Sunday newspaper ads for Sears, Kohls, etc., have photos like the Chinese Disney billboard. Sure, I can only look at them once, because then the pages are stuck together. Damn, I’ve got another cramp in my hand! I’ll finish this later…
Why would Disney care if an underage model poses, when the underwear is made by child slave labor?