No, Snoop Dogg Did NOT Apologize for Questioning LGBTQ Themes in Disney-Pixar's 'Lightyear'
The internet loves a good controversy, and when Snoop Dogg seemingly stirred the pot over LGBTQ+ representation in Pixar’s 2022 film Lightyear, the online world lit up. A supposed apology from the rap legend’s Instagram account made headlines, only for his team to slam it as fake.
This saga, unfolding in late August 2025, reignited debates about inclusivity in family-friendly films, parental concerns, and Disney’s delicate balancing act. With Lightyear’s co-writer clapping back and Disney facing ongoing pushback over queer content, here’s the full scoop, packed with verified quotes and the latest details as of September 2025.
Here's the TLDR: Snoop Dogg & Pixar's Lightyear Drama
Snoop Dogg sparked controversy on the It’s Giving podcast, saying a same-sex kiss in Lightyear left him “scared to go to the movies” after his grandson asked tough questions.
Fake Apology: An Instagram comment from Snoop’s verified account appeared to apologize, but his reps confirmed it was fake, with no official follow-up from the rapper.
Lightyear co-writer Lauren Gunderson defended the film’s queer couple, emphasizing the importance of representation in kids’ media.
Disney and Pixar backlash: Both studios have faced criticism for toning down LGBTQ+ elements in films like Elio (2025), which flopped amid creative overhauls driven by parental feedback.
Snoop’s silence since the fake apology leaves his stance unclear, fueling ongoing debates.
Snoop Dogg’s Lightyear Comments Spark a Firestorm
It all started when Snoop Dogg, the iconic rapper behind “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” shared a candid moment on the It’s Giving podcast on August 20, 2025.
Recalling a movie outing with one of his seven grandchildren, he described being blindsided by a scene in Lightyear, Pixar’s Toy Story spinoff. The film features a brief kiss between two female Space Rangers, Alisha Hawthorne (voiced by Uzo Aduba) and her wife Kiko, who are shown raising a child together.
Snoop didn’t hold back: “The same-sex couple included in the 2022 Disney movie Lightyear threw me for a loop.” He added, “Why my grandson in the middle of the movie like ‘Papa Snoop, how she have a baby with a woman? She a woman.’ … I’m scared to go to the movies. Like y’all throwing me in the middle of s--- that I don’t have an answer for.”
The comments, aired on August 25, 2025, via a podcast clip, went viral, splitting fans. Some empathized with Snoop’s struggle to navigate complex questions from a 6-year-old, while others, including trans entertainer T.S. Madison, called out the remarks as “rooted in a little bit of homophobia.”
The backlash was swift, with social media posts racking up hundreds of thousands of likes accusing Snoop of being out-of-touch, especially given his history of allyship with queer artists.
The Fake Instagram Apology That Fooled the Internet
Just when the drama seemed to peak, a comment from Snoop’s verified Instagram account surfaced on August 27, 2025, under a Hollywood Unlocked post featuring T.S. Madison’s critique.
The comment read:
“I was just caught off guard and had no answer for my grandsons. All my gay friends [know] what’s up, they been calling me with love. My bad for not knowing the answers for a 6-yr-old. Teach me how to learn. I’m not perfect.”
It looked like a classic celebrity pivot—contrite, open to growth, and ready to move on.
But plot twist: Snoop’s team shut it down. A representative told major outlets, “It is a fake,” clarifying that neither Snoop nor his team penned the comment.
The statement, since deleted, left fans scratching their heads—was it a hack, a prank, or something else? As of September 5, 2025, Snoop hasn’t personally addressed the fake apology or the broader controversy, leaving his original podcast remarks as his last word.
This silence has only amplified the online chatter, with some defending his right to question content in kids’ films and others demanding clarity.
Lightyear Co-Writer Lauren Gunderson Fires Back
Lauren Gunderson, a screenwriter who contributed to early drafts of Lightyear, wasn’t about to let Snoop’s comments slide.
Taking to Instagram and Threads, she defended the inclusion of the queer couple with passion:
“I created the Lightyear lesbians,” she declared, explaining, “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’m proud of it. To infinity. Love is love.”
Responding to a commenter who brought up Snoop’s remarks, she added bluntly, “He sucks,” though she softened it with, “Snoop was great during the Olympics. Hopefully he joins the side of Love :)”
Gunderson’s stance highlights the creative intent behind the scene: to normalize diverse families in a way that’s authentic, not forced. She pushed back against claims it was “inappropriate,” noting, “What sex? It was a happy marriage that was depicted. You are making it about sex.”
Her comments underscore a broader tension—creators advocating for visibility versus parents feeling caught off guard by such themes in kids’ media.
Disney and Pixar’s Ongoing LGBTQ+ Controversy
Snoop’s remarks tap into a larger storm surrounding Disney and Pixar’s handling of LGBTQ+ representation.
Lightyear itself was a lightning rod in 2022, banned in over a dozen countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE due to the same-sex kiss. The scene was nearly cut but reinstated after Pixar employees protested Disney’s initial silence on Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Despite the inclusion, Lightyear tanked at the box office, losing $105 million globally, with some blaming the controversy for turning off family audiences.
Fast-forward to 2025, and Disney’s still navigating this minefield. Pixar’s Elio, released in June 2025, faced similar scrutiny. Originally helmed by openly gay director Adrian Molina, the film included “queer-coded” elements tied to the protagonist’s identity.
But after negative test screenings and parental feedback, executives ordered rewrites to remove these themes, leading to Molina’s departure and a rushed overhaul. Anonymous Pixar staffers expressed being “deeply saddened” by the cuts, with one saying, “Pixar execs were constantly sanding down these moments in the film that alluded to Elio’s sexuality of being queer.”
The result? Elio grossed under $100 million worldwide, a flop that insiders attribute partly to the creative meddling.
Disney’s broader pullback is evident elsewhere. A trans storyline was cut from the animated series Win or Lose, and Inside Out 2 (2024) saw rewrites to “avoid LGBTQ themes,” according to laid-off Pixar employees.
GLAAD’s Studio Responsibility Index downgraded Disney from a “good” grade in 2022 to “poor” in 2024 and “insufficient” in 2025, reflecting this retreat.
Yet, the pendulum swings both ways—internal pushback from creators and some fans demands bolder inclusivity, creating a tug-of-war that Disney can’t seem to win.
People Also Ask: Quick Answers to Burning Questions
Did Snoop Dogg apologize for his Lightyear comments?
No, the Instagram apology was fake, per his representatives. He hasn’t publicly addressed the controversy since the podcast.
What was the Lightyear scene that caused the uproar?
A brief kiss and family montage featuring Alisha Hawthorne and her wife Kiko, showing their life together with their child.
Why is Disney reducing LGBTQ+ content in films?
Parental backlash and box-office flops like Lightyear and Elio have prompted executives to dial back inclusive themes to appease family audiences.
Is Snoop Dogg against the LGBTQ+ community?
His past collaborations and public support suggest he’s an ally, making his Lightyear comments a surprising misstep for many fans.
Wrapping It Up
This Snoop Dogg–Lightyear drama is more than a celebrity gaffe—it’s a snapshot of the messy intersection between pop culture, representation, and family values.
Snoop’s caught-off-guard moment, the fake apology, and Gunderson’s fierce defense highlight the stakes of inclusive storytelling.
Meanwhile, Disney and Pixar’s cautious steps backward show how parental backlash continues to shape Hollywood’s choices, often at the cost of creative vision and box-office success.
With no new word from Snoop as of September 5, 2025, the conversation rages on—proving that even a kids’ movie can spark grown-up debates.
Hat Tips
The Hollywood Reporter, “Snoop Dogg’s Rep Says Comments Addressing Backlash Over His Criticism of LGBTQ Representation Are ‘Fake’,” August 31, 2025
Them.us, “Snoop Dogg’s Reps Say Lightyear Apology by His Verified Account Is ‘Fake’,” September 2, 2025
Entertainment Weekly, “Snoop Dogg’s Rep Says Apology for Controversial ‘Lightyear’ Comments Is Fake,” September 2, 2025
Deadline, “Snoop Dogg Rep Says Apology For ‘Lightyear’ LGBTQ Comments ‘Is A Fake’,” August 30, 2025
Fox News, “Snoop Dogg Rep Denies ‘Fake’ Apology Over ‘Lightyear’ LGBTQ+ Comments,” September 4, 2025
Variety, “Lightyear Restores Same-Sex Kiss After Backlash to Disney’s Stance on ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill,” June 14, 2022
Billboard, “Disney & Pixar’s LGBTQ+ Representation Faces Ongoing Backlash, From Lightyear to Elio,” July 15, 2025
People, “Pixar’s Elio Faces Backlash After Studio Removes LGBTQ+ Content Following Test Screenings,” June 20, 2025
Yahoo Entertainment, “Snoop Dogg’s Lightyear Apology Deemed Fake by Reps Amid Ongoing LGBTQ+ Controversy,” September 1, 2025