"We're making a movie, not hundreds of millions of dollars of therapy.... As time's gone on, I realized my job is to make sure the films appeal to everybody."
"It was pretty clear through the production of the first version of the film that [studio leaders] were constantly sanding down these moments in the film that alluded to Elio's sexuality of being queer."
"some parents didn't want entertainment to force them to have a conversation they weren't ready for with their children."
Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter removed subtle gay references from the 2025 film Elio, originally directed by gay filmmaker Adrian Molina. The removed content included scenes with a pink tank top, pink bike, and daydreams about raising a child with a male crush. Docter justified the cuts by stating the studio aims to appeal to everyone and that filmmaking is not therapy. Following test screenings where audiences said they wouldn't see the film theatrically, Molina left the project. Co-directors Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi completed the final version. A former Pixar artist confirmed studio leaders consistently removed moments alluding to Elio's queerness. The film ultimately underperformed at the box office with record-low opening weekend sales for Pixar.
Read at LGBTQ Nation
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