Disney Cuts Transgender Storyline From ‘Win or Lose’ After Casting Trans Actress
Disney+ Series ‘Win or Lose’ Drops Transgender Storyline, Leaving Young Actress Heartbroken
Los Angeles, CA - Chanel Stewart, an 18-year-old transgender actress from Los Angeles, was ecstatic when she landed the role of a transgender teenager in Disney+’s upcoming animated series Win or Lose. The opportunity felt like a dream come true, a chance to authentically represent herself and inspire other transgender youth. but that dream was shattered this week when Disney informed Stewart and her mother that the transgender storyline had been removed from the show.
Stewart, who was just 14 when she auditioned for the role after seeing a casting call on X (formerly Twitter), immediately connected with the character.”I was exactly what they wanted to a T, and that’s why it felt so right,” stewart told deadline. “I immediately asked my mom if I could do it, because I just felt like if I don’t do this, it wouldn’t make sense. You know what I mean?”
The young actress was eager to share the news with her friends and proudly wore the role “as a badge” because it meant so much to her. “The thought of authentically portraying a transgender teenage girl made me really happy,” she said. “I wanted to make this for transgender kids like me.”
though, Disney’s decision to remove the storyline has left both Stewart and her mother, Keisha, heartbroken. In a statement,Disney said they recognize that “many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline.”
Keisha Stewart expressed her disappointment, stating, “it was upsetting because my daughter is transgender and this is her life. I felt like it was very vital that we not hide that fact. There may be some parents out there who are not ready to have that conversation, but this is the world that we live in and everyone should be represented. Everyone deserves to be recognized.And it felt like it was just another setback for the LGBTQ community, as it’s very hard on transgender teenagers … transgender people, period.Especially when you’re young and you’re trying to figure out how to navigate this world that you live in and be able to grow into your own person.”
Chanel stewart echoed her mother’s sentiments, adding, “I was very disheartened. From the moment I got the script, I was excited to share my journey to help empower other trans youth.I knew this would be a very critically importent conversation. Trans stories matter, and they deserve to be heard.”
while Disney maintains that Stewart’s character will remain a significant part of the show, she will now be portrayed as a cisgender girl. “It’s just that my character would now be a cis girl, a straight cis girl,” Stewart explained.
Despite the setback,Stewart remains proud of her accomplishment. “I’m definitely one of the first [transgender girls] to do this!” she said. “it’s a true honor to be a part of queer history.”
Win or Lose, which features Will Forte as the voice of softball Coach Dan, will premiere on Disney+ beginning February 19, 2025.
Disney’s “Win or Lose” drops Transgender Storyline, Leaving Young Actress Heartbroken
Los Angeles, CA – 18-year-old transgender actress Chanel stewart was thrilled to land the role of a transgender teenager in Disney+’s upcoming animated series Win or Lose. For Stewart, the prospect felt like a dream come true, a chance to authentically represent herself and inspire other transgender youth. But that dream was dashed this week when Disney informed Stewart and her mother that the transgender storyline had been removed from the show.
Stewart, who was just 14 when she auditioned after seeing a casting call on X (formerly Twitter), immediately connected with the character. “I was exactly what they wanted to a T, and that’s why it felt so right,” Stewart told Deadline. “I immediately asked my mom if I could do it, because I just felt like if I don’t do this, it wouldn’t make sense. You know what I mean?”
The young actress was eager to share the news with her friends and proudly wore the role ”as a badge” because it meant so much to her. ”The thought of authentically portraying a transgender teenage girl made me really happy,” she said.”I wanted to make this for transgender kids like me.”
However, Disney’s decision to remove the storyline has left both Stewart and her mother, Keisha, heartbroken. In a statement, Disney said they recognize that “many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline.”
Keisha Stewart expressed her disappointment, stating, “it was upsetting because my daughter is transgender and this is her life. I felt like it was very vital that we not hide that fact.There may be some parents out there who are not ready to have that conversation, but this is the world that we live in and everyone should be represented. Everyone deserves to be recognized. And it felt like it was just another setback for the LGBTQ community, as it’s very hard on transgender teenagers… transgender people,period. Especially when you’re young and you’re trying to figure out how to navigate this world that you live in and be able to grow into your own person.”
Chanel Stewart echoed her mother’s sentiments, adding, “I was very disheartened. From the moment I got the script, I was excited to share my journey to help empower other trans youth. I knew this would be a very important conversation. Trans stories matter, and they deserve to be heard.”
While Disney maintains that Stewart’s character will remain a meaningful part of the show, she will now be portrayed as a cisgender girl.”It’s just that my character would now be a cis girl, a straight cis girl,” Stewart explained.
Despite the setback, Stewart remains proud of her accomplishment. “I’m definitely one of the first [transgender girls] to do this!” she said. “It’s a true honor to be a part of queer history.”
Win or Lose, which features Will Forte as the voice of softball Coach Dan, will premiere on Disney+ beginning February 19, 2025.