Hispanic social media users are pushing back after NY Times columnist Charles Blow attacked cartoon character “Speedy Gonzales.”
In his NY Times piece, Blow claims Speedy Gonzales “friends helped popularize the corrosive stereotype of the drunk and lethargic Mexicans”
In the same piece he accses Pepe Le Pew of normalizing “rape culture.”
Comedian Gabriel Iglesias fired back at Blow, writing “I am the voice of Speedy Gonzales in the new Space Jam. Does this mean they are gonna try to cancel Fluffy too? U can’t catch me cancel culture. I’m the fastest mouse in all of Mexico 💨”
Iglesisas also shared a animated GIF of Speedy Gonzales.
I am the voice of Speedy Gonzales in the new Space Jam. Does this mean they are gonna try to cancel Fluffy too? U can’t catch me cancel culture. I’m the fastest mouse in all of Mexico 💨 pic.twitter.com/Ov4wjO00kM
— G a b r i e l – I g l e s i a s (@fluffyguy) March 7, 2021
Others rushed to defend Speedy as well:
Speedy Gonzales has always been a popular character amongst Latinos, Mexicans in particular. Seeing people talk about how “offensive” he is is laughably untrue. They flat out embrace the “Fastest Mouse in all of México.” pic.twitter.com/1cPBp2WJLN
— Enrique Salas (@HolySka1991) March 6, 2021
As a Latino, I can state that we are not offended by Speedy Gonzales. He is a cultural icon and must be protected at all costs.
The machismo. The drip. Protect him! pic.twitter.com/PkKwbEDwOV
— EJ (@Ejmiller25) March 6, 2021
People always say “aren’t there more important things than Speedy Gonzales or Dr. Seuss or *insert latest cancel victim here*?!”
No. Banning books is fascism. Prohibiting creative expression is fascism.
That’s pretty important.— Steven Crowder (@scrowder) March 6, 2021
I don’t know why Speedy Gonzales is trending, but I will say this:
I loved watching Speedy Gonzales growing up. He always outsmarted the ones trying to catch him or attack him.
I’m Mexican. I don’t want him “cancelled.”
— I’ve stopped being able to even. (@soytaquitobelle) March 7, 2021