Part 5/10:

According to reports, Disney's leadership has pointed fingers at this scene for Lightyear's financial failure, though many argue that the kiss was not the core reason the film underperformed, which earned only about $100 million globally. Instead, other issues—like confusing marketing, the absence of Tim Allen’s voice for Buzz Lightyear, and the film's divergence from beloved Toy Story characters—played more significant roles.

An internal staff statement from LGBTQ+ Pixar employees condemned the censorship, stating that leadership was "censoring overtly gay affection" amid protests over Florida's controversial "Don’t Say Gay" bill. Despite these claims, sources emphasize that Lightyear’s failure is multifaceted, not solely attributable to the inclusion of a same-sex kiss.