The kids are alright, and one way I know is because Moana star Auli’i Cravalho used TikTok and Twitter to casually come out as bisexual.
A fan asked her on Twitter if she liked girls and she directed them to her TikTok, which only has three videos on it so far. One is her asking how to use TikTok since she’s new to the app, one is about her cat, and one is her lip-synching the words to Eminem’s “Those Kinds Nights” where he meets a girl who says she’s bi and checking out chicks. And that was that!
I personally love this for a lot of reasons, not only because she’s young and comfortable enough to come out publicly, but also because we’ve learned about a lot of former Disney child stars who didn’t come out until much later in life for one reason or another, one reason likely being Disney contracts. But Disney is opening up, and it seems its actors are starting to be able to as well.
Another reason this feels a little extra special to me, personally, is because the movie Moana was so relatable to my inner child. I’m an out and proud adult now, but the longing to be out in the world, that desire to figure out who you are and to BE who you are, and not who your family wants you to be… as someone who was closeted until after college, that spoke to me. Plus, in the movie, Moana joined Elsa in the No Prince Club. Her story wasn’t about romantic love, and it makes it all that much easier for queer kids to see themselves in her. Auli’i coming out as bisexual just adds to that gift. As someone who grew up loving Disney princesses, and never did grow out of them, and who is still waiting for her queer fairytale, this feels like a huge win. And any good news feels extra good right now.
Welcome to the team, Auli’i, and thanks for this moment of joy.
This is great news!
I’m not holding my breathe on this affecting Disney in any positive way though.
The coming-out tiktok is now muted because of a copyright claim *headache starts*
I always said Moana is a queer narrative! Young woman rejects the expectations of her parents and community, learns who she really is, and saves her people using radical kindness and trauma healing! Plus, as we all know, sailing is gay.
This comment is gold.
Congratulations to all the queer teens who have massive crushes on her. Yay, Auli’i!!!
a resounding Good For Her
And a golf clap as well
Happy that she’s able to come out safely!
I have a few of the Moana songs on my spring cleaning spotify playlist and they are really cute and she’s got a great voice.
Also: who put this on wikipedia? Because it’s on there already and the citation is this article and I think that’s pretty cool.