The writer behind Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story spinoff, Lightyear, reacts to criticism of its inclusion of a same-Sєx kiss scene that resulted in the movie being banned in several countries, including Lebanon, Malaysia, Palestine, and Egypt. This also sparked significant internal debate at Disney over the company’s overall handling of LGBTQ+ representation.

Though the movie was released in 2022, it was in August 2025 that rapper Snoop Dogg opened up about his discomfort watching Lightyear with his grandson and questioned the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters in children’s media, his comments also being met with backlash.

In a recent Instagram post, Lightyear‘s writer Lauren Gunderson defended the decision to feature Buzz Lightyear’s (Chris Evans) friend Alisha Hawthorne (Uzo Aduba) with her wife on-screen. She shared that while working on the early versions of the script, it was “so natural” to give Alisha a female partner.

Even though it is a small detail in the movie, Gunderson knew it was a “big deal,” and she was proud that the “happy queer couple” made it to the final version, though she had “little to do with the final script.” In response to the criticism, Gunderson stressed that “love is love,” and the relationship isn’t one of the fictional elements. Read her comment below:

So. I created the LIGHTYEAR lesbians. In 2018, I was a writer at Pixar – such a cool place, grateful to work there, learned a ton from kind and impressive creatives. As we wrote early versions of what became LIGHTYEAR, a key character needed a partner, and it was so natural to write ‘she’ instead of ‘he.’ As small as that detail is in the film, I knew the representational effect it could have. Small line, big deal. I was elated that they kept it. I’m proud of it. To infinity. Love is love.

I was one of a few writers they had on it over the years, which is very common for screenwriting of course. I had very little to do with the final script. But I was proud to see a happy queer couple (even for a few seconds) onscreen. I know they got a lot of s*** for this inclusion, but stuff like this matters because beautiful love like this exists.

It’s *not* fiction. What IS fiction is Zurg and lightspeed space travel and murderous aliens and a talking robot cat (long live Sox).

What Lauren Gunderson’s Comments Mean For Lightyear

Lightyear has a PG rating, which technically suggests Parental Guidance, as the film may contain material not suitable for young children. While the rating doesn’t define the movie as inappropriate for children to watch, it recommends that parents screen it beforehand to determine whether it aligns with their children’s maturity level.

Movies with a PG rating, such as The Incredibles, Up, and Elemental, feature on-screen kisses between characters and are generally considered appropriate. These scenes also serve as an opportunity to teach children about boundaries and healthy relationships.

Gunderson’s comments point out how the same-Sєx scene is part of the non-fiction storytelling in Lightyear and how the depiction aligns with real-world relationships.

Our Take On Lightyear’s Controversial Kiss Scene

Same-Sєx relationships exist in the real world, but there’s still an overall lack of representation of them in media. Much like how age-appropriate kiss scenes allow parents to discuss affection and boundaries with their children, Lightyear offers children a chance to ask questions about different family structures they see in daily life.

Lightyear‘s LGBTQ+ inclusion is realistic, and it’s arguably the best part of the movie because of how natural the relationship between Alisha and her partner is. Unlike being inorganically inserted into a movie, theirs is a good example of representation done right. On the other hand, the Lightyear scene might still be considered inappropriate or offensive in certain cultures.