His recent commentary on “woke” culture sheds light on the challenges facing Pixar Animation Studios and the TikTok app amid shifts in the entertainment landscape.
Pixar Animation Studios recently made headlines with its decision to lay off 175 employees, constituting approximately 14 percent of its workforce. This announcement coincides with the impending release of a sequel to the film “Inside Out” this summer.
In response to these developments, Mr. Young told The Epoch Times in a recent in-depth interview: “I don’t understand why these people are not paying attention [to] it—it’s go ‘woke,’ go broke.”
He emphasized the importance of recognizing consumer preferences. He cited excess Disney merchandise found in discount stores as evidence of products failing to resonate with audiences.
The studio’s recent struggles come on the heels of setbacks like the box office disappointment of Pixar’s “Elemental” in 2023, a film that featured a non-binary character.
Reflecting on Disney’s broader financial challenges, Mr. Young remarked, “You’ve got Disney losing money left and right,” underscoring the gravity of the situation.
The release of “Lightyear,” a “Toy Story” spin-off featuring a same-sex kiss, also faced controversy and was banned in 14 countries. “Lightyear” grossed roughly $220 million at the box office with a production budget of approximately $200 million. Critics attributed its failure to clashes between Disney and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, particularly his “Don’t Say Gay” law. The Parental Rights in Education Act enacted in 2022 prohibits public schools from having classroom discussions on sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten to third grade.
Mr. Young critiqued Disney’s approach to storytelling, particularly in recent endeavors like the “The Marvels” movie, noting the lack of character development and token diversity. He emphasized the importance of authentic representation, pointing to successful examples like Sony’s “Into The Spiderverse.”
“You’re not being forced,” he said. “Here’s where he lives. This is his life. This is what he’s got to deal with,” he said about the main character, Miles Morales, a black Puerto Rican character.
TikTok
The comedian criticized the body positivity movement, particularly targeting those who promote morbid obesity on social media. “I have no problem saying someone is fat,” he stated, revealing that he once weighed 320 pounds.“You know that you’re unhealthy. You know that you’re unable to do things that healthy people can do,” he asserted, clarifying that his critique was not aimed at individuals with injuries or medical conditions.
“When I see this garbage in the world where people are pushing that it’s healthy to be fat, it’s not,” he added.
Sharing his journey, Mr. Young described his commitment to daily gym sessions and eliminating fast food and soda from his diet as key factors in his weight loss. “So I have no sympathy whatsoever, nor will I ever for people who are morbidly obese,” he declared emphatically.
Mr. Young extended his criticism to the body positivity movement’s impact on youth. “We can’t teach kids that being lazy is a good thing,” he said.
He elaborated on his views on social media’s influence, particularly focusing on TikTok amid discussions of a potential nationwide ban of the social media app due to security risks.
“When you look at TikTok and who controls TikTok, are there videos in China where they show fat Chinese people?” he questioned.
TikTok’s parent company is ByteDance, which has ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
Highlighting his personal opinion, he continued, “Do they tell them to be body-positive? I don’t think so. Do they show all the crazy trans stuff to kids on TikTok in China? I don’t think so.”
Mr. Young suggested a more insidious motive behind these trends, expressing a belief that the United States’ foreign adversaries, particularly communist China, might be using TikTok to weaken American youth.
Lack of Unity
Mr. Young shared his views on the broader trends shaping American politics, underscoring the complex interplay between online activism, traditional political structures, and grassroots sentiment.Central to Mr. Young’s criticism is the perception that some politicians seemingly prioritize the demands of vocal online factions over the concerns of everyday Americans. “I think the problem ... is that they are catering to the loudest people online rather than the common sense people in the street,” he asserted, lamenting the loss of nuance and moderation in political discourse.
He criticized the online culture that drives this phenomenon, noting its focus on sensationalism and clickbait. “It’s these people online who are allowed. They do it for clicks. And you end up losing the actual nuance and middle ground because all these people are playing for are the ridiculous people and the ridiculous headlines that get the better numbers,” he observed, highlighting the detrimental impact on substantive dialogue.
In 2020, Twitter, now X, added community notes, letting users add extra information and context to tweets. Initially called “Birdwatch,” it aims to combat oversensationalized posts and misinformation by allowing users to add context.
Turning to recent political developments, Mr. Young expressed support for former President Donald Trump’s decision to hold a rally in the South Bronx neighborhood of New York.
“You know, I like seeing the diverse people. I like seeing the loud New Yorkers, and it’s a shame that there aren’t more of them that are out there,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of engaging with a variety of viewpoints.
“They’re happy to come out and show their support for the actual solution to their problems,” he explained, suggesting a growing dissatisfaction with current leadership in urban areas.
