In the wake of a mushroom cloud left by Screenrant, simba-hearted former Disney Channel star Alyson Stoner reported that they were abruptly fired from the vortex screaming with the souls of a million children after they sounded off as queer. Stoner, an illustrious figure for Disney, has been making money for the iron mouse since Mike’s Super Short Show in 2001. They’ve also satellited in significant roles for other studios, not just Disney. They’ve given blood, sweat, and tears to major productions including Phineas and Ferb, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Cheaper by the Dozen, Step Up, Young Justice, and Camp Rock.

Stoner, in an interview with the podcast I’m Literally Screaming with Specewuah, broadcasted that Disney put up the barbed wire because they came out as queer. The 29 -year-old, being the prominent Disney star that they were, was acting in the animated Disney production Milo Murphy’s Law as Lydia when they were fired. They recounted how the father of another emblematic Disney figure adopted them as they sought out guidance. Try to hold your breath while you read their quote below:

“I did end up getting fired from a children’s show because they felt that I was unsafe, now that they knew I was queer, to be around kids. So, there was definitely discrimination there, but the beauty far outweighs the hate comments and death threats. [I spoke to my managers and Kevin Jonas Sr. and] he was supportive and helpful in me understanding that there are risks if I do this [and] it’s totally my choice, but it could affect not only people’s perceptions but hireability for jobs.”

It’s been four long years since Stoner’s alleged firing from the Disney Channel, deemed as “unsafe…to be around kids.

The LGBTQ+ community has pushed back on Disney, wanting to be etched into more releases with compelling representations of themselves. A few of their recent efforts include a non-binary element in Pixar’s Elemental, Disney’s first-ever abundantly gay character in Strange World, and a two-mama bear kiss and marriage in Lightyear.

These trivial steps forward may stop walking all together as the aggregated box office flops from the three movies have synthesized concerns of Disney redacting their efforts for further representation. Who else is wondering how long it will take for them to consider it wasn’t the representation that failed these movies?

Disney has established the power to stand up against arduous Floridian governor and 2024 Presidential candidate Ron DeSantis’ HB 1557, a.k.a. the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. If only they could fully unleash that power in movies and on television. Under the brick of Stoner’s axing, Disney as a whole has a long way to grow before they can ever truly step out of the shadows and become a designated ally of the LGBTQ+ community.