# New Disney Movie demigod obesity controversy **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 30, 2016, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769 "2016-06-30T12:15:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/1 "2016-06-30T12:15:19Z")
[BBC Link](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36660660) Apparently there’s a bit of an uproar that Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson) is represented as obese in _Moana_, the upcoming Polynesian-set Disney animation. Personally, I’m not seeing it - he look like a powerful guy, a wrestler type, to me. Granted, more a Big Show (refridgerator) than The Rock (carrot) in shape, but not what I’d call obese or even just fat. Anyone else think he looks obese? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/2 "2016-06-30T12:23:08Z")
So what? Obese people exist. Get used to it. ---
**Author:** ![Chihuahua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Chihuahua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chihuahua)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/3 "2016-06-30T12:29:07Z")
It really doesn’t matter what they do, because no matter how they handle it _somebody_ will find an excuse to bitch about _something_. They might as well just tell the story the way they want to tell it and accept that they’ll never make everyone happy. Lord knows, Spike Lee will probably show up to bitch about how primitive Hawaii has no black people on it. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/4 "2016-06-30T12:50:41Z")
He looks as though he’s [packing a couple pounds](http://66.media.tumblr.com/4f0c01065943e8621b39f5782d6e388b/tumblr_nvv3wbLZDG1sceyu3o1_1280.png) there although he also looks as though he could kick your ass. He certainly doesn’t seem like the “Fat because he’s eating Doritos in front of the TV all day” sort. I know nothing about Maui as a deity but some Google Image scanning didn’t make him look like a jolly big dude in the mythology or anything so maybe that’s the complaint? Anyway, I thought we were supposed to get upset when all the people were stereotypically slender and beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/5 "2016-06-30T13:04:47Z")
When I saw the trailer I was a bit disturbed by the character. I something about the face bothers me. The eyes too close together? The eyebrows? It just seems off. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/6 "2016-06-30T13:38:28Z")
To me he looks like the kind of guy who gets asked if he plays rugby. Big, not fat. ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/7 "2016-06-30T14:07:10Z")
Looks to me like an exaggeration of a body you’d see at a world’s strongest man competition. Here’s the Mountain from GOT lifting weights. [https://m.imgur.com/gallery/QLxKfHz](https://m.imgur.com/gallery/QLxKfHz) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/8 "2016-06-30T14:32:39Z")
I would like to lodge a complaint that every Disney princess ever has a completely unrealistic waistline, as well. Oh, they’re caricatures? Ok. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/9 "2016-06-30T14:36:45Z")
Oh. Good. God. Some people would bitch if their ice cream was cold. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/10 "2016-06-30T14:37:04Z")
And the stupid continues to multiply. Have humans always been this ridiculously oversensitive or do we just get to hear about it more because of mass communication? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/11 "2016-06-30T15:01:55Z")
We get to hear about it more. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/12 "2016-06-30T15:10:16Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > We get to hear about it more. Not only that, but the prevalence of un-policed blogs and rampant ignorance means that this sort of thing gets WAY more attention than it should. It’s also how bloviating morons like that Food Babe person get attention for saying things that are literally incorrect about food, nutrition, pesticides, etc… ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/13 "2016-06-30T15:25:04Z")
Don’t know if this changes anyone’s opinion but obesity is actually a pretty big concern in Pacific island countries/region. > [@](#): > > Obesity in the Pacific is a growing health concern with health officials stating that it is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in the Pacific Rim. According to Forbes, Pacific island nations and associated states make up the top seven on a 2007 list of fattest countries, and eight of the top ten. In all these cases, more than 70% of citizens age 15 and over have an unhealthy weight.[1] > **[Obesity in the Pacific](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity_in_the_Pacific)** > > Pacific island nations and associated states make up the top seven on a 2007 list of heaviest countries, and eight of the top ten. In all these cases, more than 70% of citizens aged 15 and over are obese. A mitigating argument is that the BMI measures used to appraise obesity in Caucasian bodies may need to be adjusted for appraising obesity in Polynesian bodies, which typically have larger bone and muscle mass than Caucasian bodies\[citation needed\]; however, this would not account for the dra Part of the problem is that being big is seen as a sign of prosperity, much like it was in Europe in an earlier time. So I could see someone from that area thinking having a fat hero is a little stereotyping and/or not a good example. ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/14 "2016-06-30T15:46:52Z")
This reminds me of that throwaway line in WALL-E, where the ship’s computer explains that being in space for so long has lowered the _bone density_ of the populace and made them get all puffy - when obviously it was written that humanity had become fat and lazy what with their every whim being met. But they stuck in that one line as cover, and defused the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/15 "2016-06-30T15:47:26Z")
(Re. obesity in Pacific Islanders) I knew that, but he doesn’t look obese. While “big” and “large” can be used as euphemisms for obese, that cartoon dude is big in the non-euphemistic way. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/16 "2016-06-30T15:53:18Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > To me he looks like the kind of guy who gets asked if he plays rugby. Big, not fat. Seconded. Critics should, er, lighten up. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/17 "2016-06-30T16:02:13Z")
The guy who the BBC referenced as not liking it happens to be a rugby player so I would guess he disagrees. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/18 "2016-06-30T16:03:27Z")
Is it possible that the guy is just traditionally really skinny or small or something? I could see maybe getting upset about that. But, otherwise, how is it supposed to be a problem? And, yeah, I say he doesn’t look obese. He looks like the type that the charts would say is obese but isn’t, because he’s got so much muscle. That “strongest guy in the world” pic is pretty much exactly the type I saw in him. At most, an out of shape version. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/19 "2016-06-30T16:12:22Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I would like to lodge a complaint that every Disney princess ever has a completely unrealistic waistline, as well. > > Oh, they’re caricatures? Ok. I would like to add to this complaint. All, ALL, Disney Princesses have been female. This is pure naked misandry on the part of Disney. > [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Have humans always been this ridiculously oversensitive Yes. > [@](#): > > or do we just get to hear about it more because of mass communication? Yes. > [@CarnalK](#): > > The guy who the BBC referenced as not liking it happens to be a rugby player so I would guess he disagrees. Why should I give a shit about what some nobody says? ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769/20 "2016-06-30T16:15:06Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Is it possible that the guy is just traditionally really skinny or small or something? He’s a tiny little dude. Scroll about 3/4 down this page to the second picture. > **[Awesome Stories](https://www.awesomestories.com/Login)** [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-disney-movie-demigod-obesity-controversy/758769.md?page=2)