Celeb News: Disney obese Polynesian god depiction in Moana sparks anger

EndofASadMovie

http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/201...ana-01-800.jpg

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Portrayal of the god Maui has prompted debate over unhealthy stereotypes of Polynesian men on screen

Jenny Salesa, who is of Tongan heritage, shared a picture on her Facebook account which said Disney’s rendering of Maui in the film Moana resembled a creature that was “half pig, half hippo”.

“When we look at photos of Polynesian men & women from the last 100-200 years, most of our people were not overweight and this negative stereotype of Maui is just not acceptable - No thanks to Disney,” Salesa wrote.

Will Ilolahia, from the Pacific Island Media Association, told Waatea News that Disney’s version of Maui did not fit with his heroic endeavours in Pacific creation myths.

“He is depicted in the stories that’s been handed down, especially in my culture, as a person of strength, a person of magnitude and a person of a godly nature,” Illolalia said.

“This depiction of Maui being obese is typical American stereotyping. Obesity is a new phenomena because of the first world food that’s been stuffed down our throat. [. . . .]

According to 2014 data from the World Health Organisation nine of the ten most obese nations in the world are Pacific Islands.

maurixrosup

Mekitor

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Originally posted by maurixrosup

yawn

I agree.

TheLuckyOnes

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most of our people were not overweight and this negative stereotype of Maui is just not acceptable

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According to 2014 data from the World Health Organisation nine of the ten most obese nations in the world are Pacific Islands.

ok

disney has had issues with being historically inaccurate and i just googled pictures of Maui and he was never drawn as being fat HOWEVER, it seems that even though the film takes place in ancient times, disney's character design is very modern with portraying maui as being fat like most pacific islanders are today.

i personally think the character design is cool and as someone who has never been considered skinny, i like that pacific islanders like the samoans are heavier. It gives me a sort of confidence. But with that being said, they have every right to be outraged though i think it will fall on deaf ears since the movie is either done or in post production

Avariko

honestly please...

Cheetos

It's a cartoon

Artemisia

There's no way they can change it now though, the movie is likely already done

Fair criticism, though

cloudinthesky

He was probably made rounder to make his character design more appealing and friendly, as opposed to having him be some attractive buff god or a stereotypical Disney prince aesthetic.

I quite like it. I mean at least wait to watch the movie before passing judgement on the design. It might actually work well with his character's personality

Also, is "fat" really a stereotype Americans use for Maui?

I've literally never heard anyone make that comparison until just now. When I hear "Maui" I think of attractive, tan Polynesian people in hula skirts, playing a ukelele and drinking from a coconut, not fat tattooed men.

@michael

This is fat-shaming.

Mimie

Jackson

Pacific Islanders ARE big people though, that's just a fact

ALA

Obese? He just looks like a big guy, jesus.

iseeyouupsidedown

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“He is depicted in the stories that’s been handed down, especially in my culture, as a person of strength, a person of magnitude and a person of a godly nature,” Illolalia said.

Honestly I think that's what the character design they created portrays... He's not just obese, he looks to be a very strong, powerful man. Interesting character designs involve exaggeration. The character looks like a person of "magnitude". People are stupid.

Domination

Have several seats, Jenny

samito

HazelHyphen

He looks like a massive, well-built Samoan. I don't see how it's obese?

ToMmY

Delete it.

rivers

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Originally posted by HazelHyphen

He looks like a massive, well-built Samoan. I don't see how it's obese?

That's what I thought!

This is so ridiculous.

NeverSincerely

Too late to change anything now, but it is a part of their culture and the story is clearly very important to them so I can see why they're mad

Reza

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Originally posted by Jackson

Pacific Islanders ARE big people though, that's just a fact

this is why Disney doesn't really do ethnic princesses. They always get offended