Some might say we’ve come a long way in terms of body diversity as recent campaigns from brands like Dove, JCPenney and Target feature a variety of different body shapes, all in a positive light. But in another instance of “we just aren’t there yet,” an ad for the new Snow White parody Red Shoes & the 7 Dwarfs is coming under fire for blatant body shaming and sending a very negative message about bodies that don’t fit the “norm.”
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How did this get approved by an entire marketing team? Why is it okay to tell young kids being fat = ugly? ??@ChloeGMoretz pic.twitter.com/PVhgwluGTM
— Tess Holliday ? (@Tess_Holliday) May 30, 2017
Plus-size model and body positive advocate Tess Holliday spotted the poster and quickly pointed out the harmful message it conveys. The meant to be lighthearted poster shows a side-by-side comparison of a tall, slim and trim Snow White with a shorter, rounder, plumper version next to the tagline, “What if Snow White was no longer beautiful and the 7 Dwarfs not so short?” The takeaway for anyone reading it is, beauty can only be attained by having what society considers “perfect” proportions. Holliday wasn’t having it and tagged voiceover star Chloë Grace Moretz in her tweet.
I have now fully reviewed the mkting for Red Shoes, I am just as appalled and angry as everyone else, this wasn’t approved by me or my team
— Chloë Grace Moretz (@ChloeGMoretz) May 31, 2017
Pls know I have let the producers of the film know. I lent my voice to a beautiful script that I hope you will all see in its entirety https://t.co/IOIXYZTc3g
— Chloë Grace Moretz (@ChloeGMoretz) May 31, 2017
The actual story is powerful for young women and resonated with me. I am sorry for the offense that was beyond my creative control https://t.co/HZP2ydPCAX
— Chloë Grace Moretz (@ChloeGMoretz) May 31, 2017
It didn’t take long for Moretz to respond with a series of her own tweets, fully disapproving of the film’s marketing approach while also stressing that the poster does not speak for her or the full message behind the film. “The actual story is powerful for young women and resonated with me. I am sorry for the offense that was beyond my creative control,” tweeted Moretz.
There is no response yet from the film’s production company, Locus Creative Studio, nor is there an official release date for the animated feature. Hopefully by the time it does come out in theaters there will be a better, less-offensive strategy to highlight the various plot twists in the film.