The popular Australian singing group and kids' show The Wiggles has updated their cast of characters to be more diverse for their show Fruit Salad TV. This move toward inclusion angered conservatives.
The Wiggles added 15-year-old Tsehay who was adopted from Ethiopia; 30-year-old John Pearce who is a personal trainer and Justice Crew dancer with a Filipino background; 45-year-old Kelly Hamilton who is a Chinese-Australian dancer who's performed with Beyoncé and P!nk; and 24-year-old Evie Ferris who is an Indigenous Australian dancer from Cairns.
Though conservatives don't seem to be angriest about at new human Wiggles cast members.
They're mostly upset with a yellow unicorn named Shirley Shawn who identifies as nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns.
Two other nonbinary characters are a dancing police officer named Officer Beaples and Bok the hand puppet.
One of the founding Wiggles, Blue Wiggle Anthony, said:
"As society has evolved, we have embraced the need for diversity and inclusiveness and want children all over the world to see themselves reflected on the screen."
'It's so important that The Wiggles continue to evolve along with our society."
"This is the first step towards shaping The Wiggles for the next 30 years, taking us in a direction that truly represents and serves our community more inclusively.'
Queensland Senator Matt Canavan was especially upset about the diversity.
Canavan unironically told The Australian:
"The Wiggles are free to do what they like. It was nice while it lasted."
"But you go woke, you go broke."
The Wiggles are one of the most successful musical kids' shows around, raking in $30 million a year.
Perth radio station 6PR presenter Oliver Peterson said he didn't "understand" why a non-binary unicorn was included, calling it "odd."
Peterson said:
"If someone can enlighten me, if somebody could tell me why they have to have a non-binary unicorn, I'd love to know."
"It seems a little bit odd."
Regardless of all the hate from conservatives, the reaction to the shows' news was positive overall.
This is fantastic \n\nSo good to see performers being able to perform and entertain as their own companies and industry collapses under more lockdowns— CMO of NSW & Dr of Dance \ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udca9\ud83d\udeb3\ud83c\udf28\ufe0f\ud83c\udfad\ud83d\udd7a\ud83c\udfc6\ud83d\udca6\ud83c\udf7a\ud83c\udf51 (@CMO of NSW & Dr of Dance \ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udca9\ud83d\udeb3\ud83c\udf28\ufe0f\ud83c\udfad\ud83d\udd7a\ud83c\udfc6\ud83d\udca6\ud83c\udf7a\ud83c\udf51) 1629685070
This is so great! I love seeing diversity and I'm certain children will heavily benefit from this!!— Katie Singleton (@Katie Singleton) 1629686642
Just found out the wiggles have a non-binary unicorn friend— \u2728Keely\u2728- buddie on the brain (@\u2728Keely\u2728- buddie on the brain) 1629637312
Can't wait to watch this with my kid— Paul Rebec (@Paul Rebec) 1629712358
TIL that the Wiggles have a nonbinary character - Shirley Shawn the Nonbinary Unicorn - and (as a genderfluid grandparent) I am just over the moon!pic.twitter.com/r5VX97r1iu— beanflower \u2729\ud83c\udf31 (@beanflower \u2729\ud83c\udf31) 1629618502
The Wiggles have been one of my secret obsessions as a parent. To say that I am thrilled by the addition of the new Wiggles and nonbinary unicorn Shirley Shawn is an understatement. \n\nMore inclusive preschool tv for all!https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/08/23/the-wiggles-non-binary-unicorn/\u00a0\u2026— Jordan Hamessley (@Jordan Hamessley) 1629739361
THE WIGGLES HAVE A NEW MEMBER AND THEYRE NON BINARY THIS IS THE HAPPIEST NEWS EVER I LOVE THE WIGGLES SO MUCH— caitlin-may \u2764\ufe0f\ud83d\udc9d (@caitlin-may \u2764\ufe0f\ud83d\udc9d) 1629588972
Why are some people so triggered by this? Adding to the group to reflect the changing community that children see everyday at daycare or school is a natural step.\n\nThe broader community has changed over the past 20 or so years\u2026..— Because I said so (@Because I said so) 1629680368
The Wiggles will never financially recover from losing your support.— Amy Claire (@Amy Claire) 1629679244
Watching people lose their minds over this is amazing, look at yourselves.— So Round, So Firm, So Fully Vaxxed (@So Round, So Firm, So Fully Vaxxed) 1629688614
Everyone was outraged when Emma joined the Wiggles years ago and then she became the most popular one by a landslide - her merchandise flies off the shelves. They clearly do their research and know how to make personnel changes.— Emmanuelle Mimieux (@Emmanuelle Mimieux) 1629694643
Hell yeah! Kids are just gonna be excited that there's new Wiggles and that there's a Wiggle that looks like them! This comments section doesn't seem to realise that the Wiggles aren't made for adults— Wey (@Wey) 1629688181
Founder Anthony also said:
"It's so important that The Wiggles continue to evolve along with our society."
"This is the first step towards shaping The Wiggles for the next 30 years, taking us in a direction that truly represents and serves our community more inclusively."
While not everyone is enthusiastic about diversity or inclusion, there sour grapes are unlikely to hurt The Wiggles Fruit Salad TV much.
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