Gonzo Becomes Gonzo-rella In ‘Muppet Babies’ Episode Addressing Gender-Variant Children
Disney Junior’s Muppet Babies cg reboot recently celebrated gender-variant children in a new episode titled “Gonzo-rella.”
In the episode, the Muppets plan to dress up for a formal dance party. Gonzo is disappointed though to learn that only girls can dress as princesses, while boys have to be knights, until Rizzo the Fairy RatFather gifts gonzo with a gown and slippers.
Gonzo attends the ball anonymously, wearing a mask, for fear of how he’ll be perceived by the other Muppets. Afterwards, the Muppets tell him that he missed a great party, at which point he reveals, “Everyone, there’s something I need to tell you. The princess who came to your ball tonight was me. I’m Gonzorella!”
Afterwards, Gonzo’s friends question him about why he didn’t identify himself earlier, and Gonzo explains, “[Y]ou all expected me to look a certain way. I don’t want you to be upset with me. But I don’t want to do things just because that’s the way they’ve always been done either. I want to be me.” The other Muppets apologize for telling Gonzo what to wear and affirm that they love him regardless of how he looks.
Muppet Babies executive producer Tom Warburton (Codename: Kids Next Door) explained the concept to Disney’s corporate blog D23:
Very early on, we wanted to do an episode where Gonzo just showed up to the Playroom wearing a skirt. And it was no big deal. No one cared or questioned it because Gonzo is always 200% Gonzo 347% of the time,” says . “But then story editor/co-producer Robyn Brown and her team wanted to take it a step further and do a Cinderella story based on the idea. And it was just SO wonderfully Gonzo. We hope he inspires kids watching to be 347% of themselves in their own way, too.
Here are a few clips from the episode which aired on July 23rd:
In my eyes, the Muppets represent the ability to be accepting and loving of others, even if they may be a little different. To embrace those who others may shun.
I’m glad to see that philosophy is still going strong. pic.twitter.com/9mnKBdCsIT
— Muppet History (@HistoryMuppet) July 24, 2021
