Snoop Dogg Criticizes LGBTQ+ Storylines in Kids’ Movies After Lightyear Screening

25 August 2025

Alisha and Kiko Hawthorne, and their son in 2022's 'Lightyear'. Credit: Disney

In a candid and controversial moment on the It’s Giving podcast, Snoop Dogg revealed that he left a screening of Pixar’s Lightyear feeling unsettled after his young grandson questioned a same-sex couple featured briefly in the film. The animated movie includes a montage where the astronaut’s friend, Alisha Hawthorne, is shown being part of a family with her wife. Hearing his grandson ask, “How does she have a baby with another woman?” Snoop said he was caught off guard. “Oh sh-- I didn’t come in for this,” he admitted, “I just came to watch the goddamn movie” 

He went on to say the scene left him feeling rattled. “I’m like scared to go to the movies now" he confessed, adding, “These are kids. We have to show that at this age? They’re going to ask questions. I don’t have the answer.” 

The remarks sparked swift backlash, with critics accusing him of homophobia and lacking empathy toward same-sex parenting. One commentator noted the irony, writing, “Imagine being Snoop Dogg, the face of weed and gangsta rap but uncomfortable with representation in a kids’ movie.” Ethanaviakel Another responded, “‘Sometimes a boy likes a boy and a girl likes a girl and that’s okay’ call it a day.” 

Fans, LGBTQ+ advocates, and media figures were quick to highlight that the concept of same-sex couples raising children is increasingly normalized. One user tweeted that explaining it to children can be as simple as discussing adoption or the fact that families come in all forms. Others pointed out that the discomfort Snoop expressed isn’t rooted in confusion but in resistance to evolving norms. 

The timing couldn’t have been more fraught. Snoop Dogg is slated to perform at this year’s Australian Football League Grand Final, but his recent remarks have prompted calls to drop him from the event’s lineup. Commentators including former AFL players have emphasized that the league’s commitment to inclusivity clashes with Snoop’s views, especially since the same event recently suspended a player for using homophobic slurs. Critics see the booking as tone-deaf and inconsistent with family-oriented values.

Snoop’s discomfort also extended to broader commentary on masculinity. He expressed concern that portrayals of Black men in media are shifting away from strength, asserting that sidelining traditional roles could erode cultural continuity. His remark: “We’re showing different sides of Black men which is cool, but if we push those front and forget this, the role that reproduces generations, that’s a problem.” 

His remarks serve as a flashpoint in the culture wars over LGBTQ+ visibility in children’s media. While advocacy groups continue to celebrate stories that reflect diverse realities, detractors often argue such themes require age-sensitive framing. The backlash to Snoop’s stance highlights the friction between shifting cultural norms and entrenched perspectives from high-profile figures.