'We're making movies...': Why Pixar removed LGBTQ+ plotlines from 'Elio'
What's the story
Pete Docter, the chief creative officer of Pixar, commented on reports that LGBTQ+ plot elements were removed from the studio's 2025 film Elio. When asked about the topic, he said, "We're making a movie, not hundreds of millions of dollars of therapy." This statement comes after a letter signed by Pixar's LGBTQIA+ employees and their allies in 2022 accused studio executives of censoring moments of gay affection in films before their release.
Film
'Elio' character was to be gay
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Docter defended Pixar's decision to remove LGBTQ+ elements from Elio. The WSJ reported that deleted scenes from Elio hinted at the lead character's homosexuality through a pink bicycle and a scene where he "imagined raising a child with his male crush."
Controversy
'Elio' marked Pixar's worst box office performance
The removal of these scenes reportedly came after test screenings indicated that audiences were not enthusiastic enough to pay for a movie with such content. The film, which was a flop upon its release in 2025, marked Pixar's worst-ever box office performance and resulted in over $100 million in losses. Co-director Adrian Molina left the project and was replaced by Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi, who oversaw the changes. Notably, the deleted scenes were inspired from Molina's childhood.
Statement
Disney's response to Florida's 'don't say gay' legislation
The controversy over Elio's deleted scenes follows Disney's lukewarm response to Florida's "don't say gay" legislation, which bans teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity until fourth grade. In 2025, another Pixar project, Win or Lose, was also accused of removing a trans character and plotline during development. At the time, Disney issued a statement saying they understood that "many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline."
Strategy shift
'Job is to make sure the films appeal to everybody'
Given the high production costs and frequent need for expensive last-minute changes, Docter said Pixar would focus on making more commercially appealing films. After a string of autobiographical film failures, including Luca and Elemental, Docter told the WSJ: "As time's gone on, I realized my job is to make sure the films appeal to everybody."