Disney’s Priorities Are Clear—And We Ain’t One of Them

Let’s get one thing straight: Disney has the money. This isn’t about “budget cuts.” This isn’t about “production costs.” This is about where they choose to invest—and where they don’t.

We were promised a Tiana animated series. Promised. They teased us with concept art, hyped it up, and made us believe Disney was finally giving their first and only Black princess the attention she deserves. But now, suddenly, the money has dried up? Nah. Not buying it.

Meanwhile, Disney is out here funding yet another live-action Snow White—a story that’s been retold so many times it’s practically a fossil. 🥴 They’re also making Moana 2, Frozen 3, and throwing cash at franchise after franchise, ensuring their biggest properties stay in the spotlight. But when it’s time to keep a show about a Black princess alive, suddenly they start clutching their wallets? Convenient.

And let’s be honest—Princess Tiana never even got the attention other Disney princesses received. She was introduced, made history, and then quietly forgotten. Disney didn’t push her like they did Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, Moana, or Elsa. Those characters got decades of promotion, consistent merchandise, and major theme park attractions. Meanwhile, Tiana got a few dolls here and there, a brief parade float appearance, and a delayed ride makeover that’s only happening because they finally decided to replace Splash Mountain. It felt like they did the bare minimum for representation and then moved on.

Now, let’s talk about what’s really happening. Ever since these anti-DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) movements started gaining traction, corporations have been quietly backtracking on diversity efforts. 🤦🏾‍♀️ They’ll claim they care about inclusion when it’s profitable, but the second there’s pushback? They fold. That’s why we don’t trust these companies when they act like they’re all about “representation.” They’ll slap a Black princess on promotional material when they need to look progressive, but when it’s time to actually invest in her, they ghost us.

Why is it so hard to give Black people anything? It’s just fucking ridiculous. 😤 In this day and age, to be this ignorant? It’s 2025. There’s no excuse. The fact that we’re still having this conversation—still fighting just to be seen, heard, and valued—is exhausting. And yet, here we are, watching Disney make it clear, once again, that we are not a priority.

And let’s be real—if people, especially these corporations, actually took the time to research and see WTF DEI really is, they’d realize how dumb they sound. They act like it’s some radical agenda when in reality, it’s about basic fairness, inclusion, and opportunity. 🤷🏾‍♀️ But no, they’d rather twist it into something “controversial” or “divisive” to justify their bias. Making it sound racist or whatever just exposes their ignorance.

At this point, it’s clear: looking for real representation from white-owned companies is a waste of time. They’ll capitalize on our culture, profit off our excitement, and then throw us aside when they think we’re not paying attention. 😒 It’s exhausting watching them use us as a diversity checkbox while making it clear we’re never their priority.

So, what’s the solution? It’s time to stop waiting on them and start creating our own stories, our own animation studios, our own legacy. Because if we keep waiting on Disney? We’ll be waiting forever. ✊🏾