Many children and adults are looking forward to Moana, Disney’s upcoming animated feature hitting theaters at Thanksgiving, about a South Pacific island princess who goes on an adventure with a demigod named Maui, voiced by The Rock. Given the timing, it’s understandable that some children might want to dress up in Moana-themed costumes for Halloween, so sensing the demand, Disney had the foresight to add costumes inspired by the film to its online store. Kids can dress up as either the titular princess Moana or as Maui.
There’s just, uh, one problem with the Maui costume.
A description reads: “Your little one will set off on adventures in this Maui Costume featuring the demigod’s signature tattoos, rope necklace and island-style skirt. Plus, padded arms and legs for mighty stature!” What it neglects to mention is the costume’s all-over brown skin tone, which some are describing as “full body brown face.”
In these culturally sensitive, politically correct times we’re living in, it would seem like a no-brainer that a costume depicting a specific race’s skin would cause a backlash, so you have to wonder who thought this was a good idea. Once the costume started making the rounds on Twitter earlier this week, people began tweeting their disappointment and outrage.
https://twitter.com/nerdypoc/status/777589062362402816
cosplaying things like moana is one thing – cosplay shouldn't be limited to what ur race is. but literally wearing a brown skin costume? no
— hannah 🇵🇸 (@troiaas) September 19, 2016
As a Poly I support our folk involved in #MOANA. But this? NO.Our Brown Skin/Ink's NOT a costume. @DisneyMoana pic.twitter.com/X0pacppAqV
— TheBlackSheep.com (@74MasterBlaster) September 18, 2016
Who's bright idea was it to make a brown skinned Maui Halloween costume from #Moana? A SKINNED costume! #wtf #culturalappropriation
— ♌️Carole Baskin Robbins♌️ (@Mobilemoll) September 19, 2016
And I wanted to like #Moana so, so much… 😔
Hopefully the movie is better than the terrible brown-skin costume being sold as "merch"?
— Emma (@taniwhaea) September 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/kellydavisnaea/status/777885914148122624
https://twitter.com/TaleiFiji/status/777980682077208576
White people, Disney marketing teams: remember that no one ever sold a fake white skin as a Snow White costume. #DecolonizeMoana
— Joliene (@UnstableOtarie) September 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/katchow/status/778217374499635200
https://twitter.com/kellydavisnaea/status/777885914148122624
https://twitter.com/la_Guerrista/status/777642340806778880
https://twitter.com/hifola2/status/777629840648183808
But the question begs, what could have been done differently? Being that the character is bare-chested and covered in tattoos, sure — they could have just sold the necklace and grass skirt and maybe some tattoo appliques, but you have to figure most kids aren’t going to be trick or treating without a shirt on in late October. Maybe we’ll just say that we miss the days when more kids made their Halloween costumes from scratch and leave it at that.
(Via BBC)