"Skinny Minnie" creates controversy in new holiday display

Posted at: 10/24/2012 6:48 AM

High-end department store, Barney’s New York is under fire, for an ad that features Minnie Mouse with a figure that nobody could have unless they ate like a mouse.
 
Minnie Mouse may look more like skinny Minnie in part of the Barney’s New York holiday display launching next month.  
 
The high-end retailer has partnered with Disney for its “Electric Holiday” campaign.  
 
It will feature a short animated film where Minnie fantasizes she is in a Paris fashion show.

In an interview with Women's Wear Daily, Barney's creative director Dennis Freedman recounted the decision to go thin. “The standard Minnie Mouse will not look so good in a Lanvin dress. I said, 'If we are going to make this work, we have to have a 5’11” Minnie,' and they agreed."
 
In fact, the drastic change to Minnie’s appearance has some people fired up. A petition on Change.org entitled: Barney's, Leave Minnie Alone has more than 134,000 supporters including actors Virginia Madsen and Kristin Bauer.
 
Disney and Barney's say the controversy is much ado about nothing since Minnie is shown mainly in her standard form and rouses from her dream to find she's wearing the same dress from the fashion show on her traditional shape.
 
On its blog, Barneys said, “While it is unfortunate the sketches that were intended to be concept art have been taking out of context, Barney’s New York is fully committed to the magical spirit of "Electric Holiday."
 
The Barney’s "Electric Holiday" display will be unveiled on November 14.

Photo from Change.org

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