What are the biggest lies Disney and Hollywood sold about love/relationships?

Question

NamerOfStars · Accepted Answer

Well, let's take a look, shall we?
-Cinderella teaches that if you just sit back and wait, doing absolutely nothing to improve your situation, eventually a magician will come along and magically fix all your problems (and give you ludicrously impractical shoes, but that's not really love-related).
-Snow White teaches that some people ignore the practical utilities of incredibly powerful magical artifacts to feed their own egos- which, for a looser definition of "magic", is actually completely true. But it also teaches that if you're pretty enough, a handsome stranger will come along and smooch you while you're unconscious, and that's perfectly okay. You'd get better lessons from the OTHER Snow-White in the Grimms' book (bears are scary, but not evil; being a good person makes for a satisfying life; gratitude is important, even if you're an evil dwarf).
-Song of the South actually teaches the importance of having a father figure, and that that can come from an unexpected direction, which is about love, but not in the way that you meant it. It also teaches you to underestimate the intelligence of bears, which is not a mistake you'll get to make twice. ESPECIALLY if you're an evil dwarf.
-Old Yeller teaches that life is a precious thing, and we should treasure it; both our own and that of those we love. Even though sometimes, it truly sucks. It also teaches that sometimes, it's kinder to end someone's pain than to let them suffer needlessly. Incredibly dark for a kids' movie, but an important lesson.
-Sleeping Beauty is pretty much just Snow White again, mixed with bits of Cinderella; just sit back and let magic solve everything, WHILE a guy kisses you when you're unconscious.
-Alice in Wonderland teaches that drugs are scary. This is not to be confused with the book, which teaches that MATH is scary. This has nothing to do with love or relationships, but I feel the need to bring it up because few other movies even bother mentioning it.
-Lady and the Tramp. This actually has some important and relevant life lessons on romance: that wantonly dating around profligately can damage your ability to pair bond and WILL cause people to think that it has, that miscommunications and misunderstandings can cause no end of relationship troubles, that forgiveness and seeking to understand differences are a critical part of relationships, and that whether love is romantic or platonic, loyalty and friendship are a vital part of it. Also that people sometimes give their children stupid names- I mean seriously, who names their kid "Darling"? I was FIVE when I saw this movie, and thought that part was stupid even then.

Overall, much of the "morals" about the classic Disney Princesses are that love is something that just happens; that if you wait patiently, it will find you, and then everything will be perfect forever. That's a load of bull. Love isn't found; it's built. Relationships aren't something made in a single burst of Herculean effort and then enduring until you die; they take constant care and tending.

TurboKid · Accepted Answer

The ones that make me cringe are those "nice guy/gal" types. There's like a gazillion of them and it's always the same basic story.

There's some nice girl or guy who isn't very cool. They have some friend they are attracted to who is very popular and attractive and they linger around them like a borderline stalker. And the person they like dates some great-looking and popular jerk (as though all great-looking and popular people are jerks).

Then they end up having a fight and the borderline stalker tries to cheer them up delivering lines like, "Aww, you deserve someone who treats you right [translation: you deserve me]." Then they get together in the end and live happily ever after.

I think these types of films are actually a big part of why those "nice guys" and "nice girls" exist who think they being nice to someone they like and following them around and lingering around them makes them deserving of that person's mutual attraction.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Hollywood movies such as Pretty in Pink, Tall Girl, and many more teaches guys/girls (nice guy/girl types some of them are like freaking stalkers) if they be persistent or don't take no for an answer their crush will eventually fall in love with them. That never happens in real life, if you don't take no for answer or be persistent the person will look at them like there a creep or put them the friend zone cause he/she doesn't see him/her romantically and in most cases it'll never happen.
Cinderella and Snow White teaches girls to sit back and do nothing and hottie will come to them. Completely false, just like anything else in life you need to work for it. If a girl wants a boyfriend just like a guy wanting a girlfriend each person needs to work for it. Love is a process, not something that is handed to you.
Some other movies and tv shows like the Kissing Booth, 13 Reasons Why, and Riverdale are basically so freaking unrealistic about high school love especially Riverdale. They make these "kids" seem like they are adults.

Breanna_nonbinary · Accepted Answer

I don’t think Disney or Hollywood is the one selling it. It’s the parents that let you believe it. Think about it this way. When you go to Disneyland and you see the character meet and greet, your brain is telling you this isn’t real, but your parents are telling you it is real.
Your parents are people you trust, if they lie to you by not telling you the truth or lie by omission then they are the ones selling you the snake oil.
Disney and Hollywood are selling make believe and it’s a parents job to teach reality. So if they are letting you believe that Hollywood and Disney is reality then the parents are responsible for selling you the lie.

Sonorous · Answer

Well, a major commonly interpreted one is that, any girl can get and sustain a high value man even if she brings nothing but her "femininity" to the table.

jennifer_bloom · Answer

I think one is that the battle ends after marriage or that your prince will immediately recognize you

spuitkaas · Answer

That if a guy is persistent enough, he will get with the girl. This only empathizes the idea that love of a woman can be bought by nice actions. This is not a thing and I see it all the time. It also encourages to not take no for an answer, which can lead to harassment.
Also all the guys/girls 'impressing' the other person. A person can be impressed but it will not make them instantly fall in love.
Relationships and falling in love is too shallow in these movies and gives a wrong impression.

rjroy3 · Answer

I'm not convinced they did lie. Is it lying to show how life could be?

Art isn't necessarily a direct reflection of reality or true to life in all ways. You can draw a message from art that's fundamental to the story and applicable to life that isn't necessarily the story itself.

We could say Disney lied to us as a means to pass blame for our outcomes but thaaaat is the biggest lie in all this. It's popular to say Disney lied. When really it's more accurate to say that the media we ingest effects us and we should be aware of that fact.

Sitcoms especially longstanding sitcoms or shows like the Simpsons, South Park, The Daily Show, News stations have a way higher effect on people than Disney did. Be mindful of the media you allow into you. Music, radio, shows, news. All of it.

Screenwriter · Answer

The biggest is "One day my prince will come." The second is the prince will solve all the problems FOR the princess. She has to do nothing but sleep on a bed of thorns or some such thing. A glass coffin in the woods with dwarves.

Disney needs to show men and women who work together to solve their problems and show that some problems won't be immediately solved and have to be put on the back burner. Also that FAMILIES help young couples to solve their problems. That always happens! Without our families, we'd be nothing.

Also, Disney might show men and women who are raising families on their own and other men and women who join with them with or without other children and become blended families. Mix it All up: races, ages, personality types... more like real life.

Can still have loads of fun with animation and the tale. Make it relatable to children today.

DiegoO · Answer

That if the feeling is there, is there. Disney almost say that romantic feelings could be mantained effortlessly.

Another thing with Disney, is: "love at first site", then with that: "they lived happily ever after". That doesn't apply to real life. If things don't work, they don't work, and love at first site is more infatuation at fiest site.

There is something else. Even though Disney is tryng to be more "modern", by creating female characters that are "strong", they reinforce clichés that doesn't help kids and teens to have a healthy and realistic view of social interactions.

Omario2049 · Answer

1. The idea of "True" and unconditional Love.
2. That women Love men who pedestalize them. Women actually need to earn ur attention, love and respect.
3. Love at first sight is actually infatuation and will burn out in less than 6 months.
4. That women are capable of loving the same way a man does. Which is bullshit because she MUST respect u before she can love u.
5. That relationships just work as long as you're both in love. It's bullshit because of many other factors like finances, social circles, cultural differences, goals, values, moral values.

007kingifrit · Answer

great question i was thinking about this a lot lately

for example i read the ORIGINAL little mermaid book recently and let me detail the difference between the 2 plots for you briefly.

original book: ariel can't talk when she becomes human AND gets a bolt of pain in her legs when she walks, but she still dances for the prince who loves watching her. He fells in love with another woman and ariel dies alone from the pain in her legs

disney movie: EVERYONE LIVES HAPPILY EVER AFTER

one of these is a happier ending BUUUUT which one leads to the values that make a person happier in life? the moral of the original book was "don't want things you can't have or you'll end up unhappy" but the value of the disney movie is "HAPPILY EVER AFTER YOU FUCKERS WEEEEEEEEEE"

Dazed0N0Confused · Answer

Considering that the storied today are twisted so that there is no lesson other than "good conquers all" is bullshit. Sleeping Beauty was RAPED while she was asleep. Stepsisters & Stepmother had their eyes pecked out by birds for their wickedness & their feet mutilated to fit into Cinderella's shoes. The Evil Queen had to dance at Snow White's wedding in cast iron shoes that were placed in a fire until they were glowing red before being put on her feet for her crimes...

Qdbrown · Answer

Disney is one of the worse American instutions to be allowed to dominate a whole narrative of fantasy and woke ideas, as though they are reality. Top to bottom. The fantasy part makes sense. That is suppose to entertain us. But then they expect us to enjoy being woke. So there a long line of fantasy that now are pushed as desired reality.

And just seeing how many movie franchises they destroyed along the way is elquoent proof that Disney is a dangerous institution.

Anonymous · Answer

Everything they say is a lie.
Women are not interested in relationships anymore. 80% of men will never get attention from women on the dating market because all benefits continue to flow to the top 20%. Mutual true love is something that will happen to less than 1% of all people in their lifetime.
The best thing we could do for honesty is to overthrow Hollywood and Disney and start making real films that are true to how life works out. Most people end up miserable and alone.

purplepoppy · Answer

If you kiss a frog it'll turn into a handsome prince. They don't you just get taken for loads of counselling.
Kissing dead people brings them to life. No they just taste like formaldehyde and it upsets the mourners.
It's ok for dwarfs to gangbang a girl and expect her to do the housework.

Mofunfour20 · Answer

that men should seek validation from women. If she doesn't toss her hair or bat her eyes im not interested. I pursue women that gives me choosing signals, seeking her validation/approval will cause her to put you in the friendzone. Disney movies pander to female's insecure nature. Never met a woman that didn't like disney films.

JSmuve · Answer

That even if you're a hideous beast, some gorgeous beauty will come along, see right through you and save your humanity even if you constantly push her away.

I suppose that only works if you kidnap her in your giant house, are swole as fuck, and have silverware and clocks that sing and dance.

Disney really pushing that Stockholm syndrome

DarkCarousel · Answer

That if you wait patiently, love will come to you.
That you have to be a bit of a damsel in distress to find love.
That the men should have to do all the work, the wooing, the chasing.
That the good guys always win.

DeltaCharlieEcho · Answer

That love and relationships just magically work. For a relationship to actually work you have to push past periods of hating each other and overcome them.

Anonymous · Answer

I watch romance movies all the time specifically black romance movies and I guess I feel lied to about how often stuff like that happens because I’ve never been approached or even been anyone’s crush so it’s like kinda sad and makes me feel lonely/undesirable

Aimée__LJ · Answer

Hero complexes. All these mentally ill girls not getting treatment because they're waiting for prince charming to come along and save them

WhiteWolf69 · Answer

Biggest thing I have noticed is instantly falling in love when meeting the person they marry. That doesn't happen in real life. Dont get me wrong I believe in love at first sight. Just the whole falling in a deep love after few minutes and then wanting to get married right after meeting.

Novacane · Answer

The idea that someone will love you for who you are no matter what your background is or what point you are at in your life

supercutebutt · Answer

That all girls crave swollen penis. In real life, sum girls prefer sniz.

Anonymous · Answer

It indirectly shows that men and women fall in love through emotional connection and not just looks alone. In the real world the majority of women are sluts and the majority of men are just dogs. That small minority where the good people are still exist.

beebella · Answer

That one day Prince Charming will come to your rescue.

Anonymous · Answer

The biggest is that a woman has no agency or role in getting a guy. She doesn't have to do anything or take any action. The man will just appear and want her as is. Bullshit.

Zelda_5 · Answer

Happily ever after, love at first sight, consent is unnecessary, how monarchy works, and more. They really shove this miseducation down our throats

MCheetah · Answer

That love is real, to begin with. Also, literally everything from Disney is stolen, so they shouldn't be taken seriously anymore, to be honest.

ChrisMaster69 · Answer

Kissing frogs  a friends sister ended up in A&E from this. She fell in a pond and nearly drowned...

Unbeatable · Answer

Dont blame hollywood for being gullible. They just made idyllic entertainment.

oldasIfeel22 · Answer

Damsel in distress crap. This has created this stupid princess syndrome in women

Anonymous · Answer

That men actually would want someone as feminist as Belle or Mulan. Ichabod at least had the excuse he wanted to inherit Katrina's father's money.

If anything, parents should treat their daughters like the king in Cinderella treats his son.

CrotchRot · Answer

The omission of conflict within a healthy relationship. This leads people to having unreasonable expectations, which leads to higher rates of divorce.

Azura_88 · Answer

That a guy only loves one girl forever and isn't with her for benefits.

WowwGirl · Answer

That for prince charming to afford the castle he had to work 60-80 hours a week

InferiorElegy · Answer

That love exists. That even a beast can get a girl. That wishing on a star works. That if you're good you'll get a happy ending.

2ndTryatThis · Answer

If you kiss a sleeping woman you’ve never met she’ll be not only grateful but marry you.. and her family is totes cool with it… riiiiiight lol. -sleeping beauty

Anonymous · Answer

That happy ever after exists. You either break up, or you get married and one of you die first. It’s depressing. Sorry I’m just a pessimist and a realist

John_Doesnt · Answer

They told me that black and white people can be friends.

Anonymous · Answer

That you can fall in love in a matter of days/hours.. that is called lust and attraction, not something one should mainly base a marriage on.

Anonymous · Answer

That there's any such thing as love. There is no love, there is only mutually beneficial arrangements that foster attachment, and as soon as the benefits of that arrangement fail, so does the attachment.

MLGbreezy · Answer

All of it , this toxic as environment that is out here makes it almost impossible to breed fucking love it's a joke.

SpaceGalaxy · Answer

That beauty is in the eye of the beholder... That the nerdy, ugly guy usually wins the girl at the end

bamesjond0069 · Answer

I think its true enough for a cartoon. Men desire attractive virgins and would do just about anything for one. Men hate nasty women and want them to leave them alone mainly.

Asianguy123 · Answer

Love at first sight and ordinary women becomes queen. Princess dream come true

Nazgol · Answer

That there's such a thing as "prince charming" & soulmates, that we will grow up to find ours

TodsShadow · Answer

That women cared about your hobbies and were understanding. This is just based on real life women I’ve interacted with.

Anonymous · Answer

That the girl always ends up with the prince and that life is one big fairy tale. If my life was a Disney movie I’d probably be some chick on GAG kicking me in the nuts

SupremeWarlord · Answer

True love's kiss will turn you into an ogre. Oh wait...

In_Trance · Answer

What constitutes a lie being bigger than the other?

dolemite89 · Answer

that love exists, it doesn’t there’s only being good to each other even when u know the other person isn’t perfect

Anonymous · Answer

the hero gets the girl. or  happily ever after is a thing

ThroughWithLove · Answer

if your parents are shit, a stranger might love you

slackbabbath · Answer

I don't know I liked Mulan

Anonymous · Answer

That the guy you like will love you back and even marry you and that men and women are loyal.

ALewis30 · Answer

You can't stay single. You be with someone.

Shihab91 · Answer

They lived happy forever... 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

RingOfFire · Answer

Dreams aren't lies, they are aspirations.

Jxrdyn_13 · Answer

That relationships are perfect

Arumin_Ian · Answer

And they lived happily ever after

captain_voidwalker · Answer

That love exists in the first place.

intimidatingwoman · Answer

Love is an open door.

What are the biggest lies Disney and Hollywood sold about love/relationships?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

What are the biggest fallacies Hollywood portrays about same sex couples?

What are the biggest lies Disney and Hollywood sold about love/relationships?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

What are the biggest fallacies Hollywood portrays about same sex couples?

We're glad to see you liked this post.