Disney pulls costume criticized as ‘Polyface’
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The DisneyStore.com website’s Maui Halloween costume as seen online today. Disney said it would no longer sell the boy’s costume for a Polynesian character that some Pacific Islanders have compared to blackface.
WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS
“Moana” is a computer-generated animated comedy-adventure about a spirited teenager on an impossible mission to fulfill her ancestors’ quest. She teams up with her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui, to traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous sea creatures, breathtaking underworlds and ancient folklore.
Disney said it would no longer sell a boy’s costume for a Polynesian character that some Pacific Islanders have compared to blackface.
The getup depicts Maui — a revered figure in Polynesian oral traditions and viewed by some Pacific Islanders as an ancestor — who is a character in the upcoming animated movie “Moana.” It has a long-sleeve brown shirt and long pants featuring full-body tattoos. It comes with a fake shark-tooth necklace and green-leaf “skirt.”
Disney’s online store had offered boy’s pajamas and a men’s t-shirt in a similar design, but those products were no longer available today.
“The team behind Moana has taken great care to respect the cultures of the Pacific Islands that inspired the film, and we regret that the Maui costume has offended some,” the company said in a statement. “We sincerely apologize and are pulling the costume from our website and stores.”
Chelsie Haunani Fairchild said it’s offputting to have a child wear the skin of another race.
“Polyface is Disney’s new version of blackface. Let’s call it like it is, people,” Fairchild said in a video she posted on Facebook.
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The Native Hawaiian college student said in an interview the costume doesn’t honor or pay homage to a culture or person, but makes fun of it.
Fairchild, who is attending school in San Antonio, Texas, later said she accepted the apology, but it didn’t change what the company did. She said Disney only stopped marketing the outfit because people spoke out.
“Moana” is due for release in November. The animated feature is about a teenager who sails through the South Pacific to a fabled island. She meets Maui, who helps her explore the ocean.
The Disney online store began selling the costume recently, just in time for Halloween. The listing noted the getup had “padded arms and legs for mighty stature!”
Tevita Kaili, a professor of cultural anthropology at Brigham Young University-Hawaii, said he was happy Disney responded to the criticism and pulled the product.
He said the costume featured tattoos that would be used in Polynesia by chiefs, adults and those committed to the community. They’re removed from their cultural context by appearing on a Halloween costume, he said.
For example, the outfit has triangle designs used to symbolize sharks. These would normally be used by families who consider sharks to be ancestral guardians, he said.
Kaili himself views Maui as an ancestor, like many people from his home island of Koloa in Tonga, where a temple is dedicated to him.
Kaili said stories handed down about Maui snaring the sun or pulling islands out of the ocean are just metaphors for how he discovered new islands as he sailed the ocean.
“For most of us in the Pacific, in Polynesia, we see Maui as an important ancestor to us — as a real person,” he said.
The costume earned international condemnation.
Marama Fox, a co-leader of New Zealand’s indigenous Maori Party and a member of New Zealand’s parliament, said the costume was a case of cultural misappropriation and an example of a company trying to profit off of another culture’s intellectual property.
The movie itself, she said, appeared to be playing into stereotypes.
“It depicts Maui as a bit of a beefy guy, and not in a good way. That’s not the picture I have of the Maui who fished up the North Island, and had a number of feats attributed to him,” she said.
51 responses to “Disney pulls costume criticized as ‘Polyface’”
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“it’s offputting to have a child wear the skin of another race.” um…HELLO! Itʻs HALLOWEEN! Itʻs the one night a year you can try on any skin you want! Lighten up!
Totally agree.
Totally totally agree!
BS
Politically correct insanity is becoming a terror.
I see it as how some Native Americans are offended when people wear imitations of their headdress.
Halloween is the most racist holiday! Racist toward zombies, vampires, superheroes, princesses, paper bags…
In order to not offend anyone, the only solution is to abolish Halloween forever!
Next, don’t get me started on Christmas….
Funny
Shut up!
Lighten up people. It’s a Halloween costume. Some want to dress as characters they look up to and respect. It was very tastefully done. Would you rather have your child look up to “Maui” or “Pimp Daddy” or “Joe Chronic”? Relax folks, nobody objected to little girls dressing up as “Lilo”.
Right! Or a ninja, sumo wrestler, kung fu artist, american indian, gypsy…this is just ridiculous. Some activists are freaking thin skinned, and American commerce is now so terrified of race. Whatever. But when it comes to Halloween, you just crossed a line, man. Itʻs on.
I still remember all of the cute little “Pocahontas” costumes back in the day. Didn’t hear any whining from the Native American community. Be glad that Maui is being honored and people are learning about our culture. Let children enjoy their childhood. Your average child is color blind with regard to race.
Shadup hrs135
In suicidal politically correct Germany even the word Gypsi translation “Zigeuner” is outlawed and replaced by “Roma” or “Sinti”.
Glad that the First Amendment protects us here in the U.S.
Shove it up ur allaha.
Shut up!
Don’t see too man KKK white sheets on kids during haloween. Right
Costumes are getting a bit more advanced. The plain white sheet is a bit too simple these days.
Disney had good intentions. Maybe now more people will watch the movie and (hopefully) learn a thing or two.
Sure hope the costume goes back on the market. Absolutely nothing wrong with the costume. Unfortunately it’s a bunch of “small minds” making the issue bigger than it should be.
Shut up!!
Yo momma!
No worst than Hulk costumes that have come up in the past.
Hey! “It’s not easy being green.” -Kermit
“Kermit, Hulk & JollyGreenGiant to file class action lawsuit… Wicked witch of the west remains undecided”
that thing looks hard to wear for kids.
it would be too hot to wear walking around collecting candy
here.
As a Native Hawaiian – this is so ridiculous! Hula costumes will be next. So if all the Native Americans had a tantrum my daughter wouldn’t have been able to be Pocahontas…a character who represents something so intriguing and admirabale for Halloween? Isn’t this what dress up and costumes are for – to be things you can’t be everyday. My goodness people there are so many other things to be concerned about!
finally – a voice of reason
Is it in good form if a non Polynesian has a Polynesian tattoo?
A Halloween costume? Where was she raised? Has she ever been to Disneyland?
Will they pull the dalmatian costume because its offensive to those with skin diseases? “Lighten up Francis” as Sgt. hulka once said…
… or mentally challenged, like someone challenges them.
I was not aware the gods were of any particular race
If it’s offensive for a child to wear the skin of another race, who are Poly kids supposed to dress up for Halloween? Now that this costume is gone what other options do they have. How about Native Americans like our dear allie? Her only choice is to dress up as a Mandan princess.
Lots of great choices for costumes for “Allie”. A “Sock Monkey” comes to mind as a front runner.
just because you are offended doesn’t mean you are right.
Sadly, Chelsie Fairchild seems to be one of society’s chronically offended. She even has a you tube post supporting the social justice warrior that was offended by the hula dancer bobblehead in a Lyft driver’s car.
Parents are getting too sensitive & should just let their kids dress up & have fun on Halloween. Didn’t these parents once wear a costume when they were in grade school? It’s these types of parents that their kids will mirror when they grow up. That’s sad.
The costume is awesome! Wish I bought one before the “Pay Attention to Me Nazi” got them taken down. By the way, Moana is NOT a movie about Hawaiians!!! It’s based on ALL Polynesia!! Anyone wanna guess how the rest of Polynesia thinks about us when we do ridiculous stuff like this?? Auwe!!!
Suppose that someone opts to dress up like obama (don’t know why anyone would, but for the sake of argument, lets suppose). Would this then be considered to be dressing up in “black face”? :-O
Obama is white dummy.
christmas and thanksgiving plays and scenes are out. can’t be wearing the culture skins of jews, three eastern wise guys, pilgrims or east coast natives.
and forget about plays like lion king or midsummer night’s dream. the wearing costumes depicting other species is just so off-putting.
bet she doesn’t have any qualms about women wearing she knows makeup or coloring their hair to “wear” and imitate the estrus skin of a younger generation.
should be: “women she knows wearing . . . “
To all foreigners from far and near! Shut up u not Polynesian u don’t understand it.u like make fun of u? I’m very good at it..Polynesian pride! !!
Take your meds. Did you run out of Lithium again? 🙁
So….anyone who was lucky and got one is now sitting on a gold mine via E-Bay or Craig’sList?
currently on ebay listed for $700 obo.
Nice profit.
Sounds to me like some complainers are attempting to re-instate Segrigation.
Wait, how much native hawaiian is Chelsie Haunani Fairchild? It’s just a kids costume!
Cultures intellectual property? These people have to much time on their hands!
Find a cure, prevent violence, stop wars! This is stupid!