Pixar employees say major portions of queer-coded content were removed from their latest film Elio, leaving the studio deeply disappointed. Originally directed by Adrian Molina, an openly gay filmmaker, early drafts included scenes like a “trash-ion” fashion show and hints of a same-sex crush in Elio’s bedroom. After Molina’s departure and rewrites by new directors, those elements were dropped.
Insiders tell The Hollywood Reporter and People that the changes saddened LGBTQ+ team members, prompting some to leave the project. Staffers described the final cut as a “sanitized” version that lacked the emotional core of the original script. The film’s poor box office performance—its worst opening in studio history—has been linked to the weakened storyline and diminished representation.
This controversy echoes prior concerns over Disney and Pixar trimming LGBTQ+ content in other projects, including Inside Out 2 and the series Win or Lose, fueling broader debate about creative fidelity and inclusion in mainstream animation.