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Mixed response to The Wiggles gender-neutral message.

On Friday, band member Lachlan Gillespie (a.k.a. The Purple Wiggle) posed for a photo on Instagram while holding a sign that read: ‘Boys can be Emma’.

Emma Watkins is The Wiggles’ only female member. Therefore, Lachlan’s sign means it’s okay for boys to dress as girls if they want to.

The photo was shared to Instagram by Emma herself, alongside the supportive caption: ‘YES’.


View this post on Instagram

???????????? YES!! ????????????

A post shared by Emma_Wiggle (@emma_wiggle) on

It didn’t take long for Wiggles fans to praise Emma and Lachlan as ‘fantastic role models for boys and girls alike’.

One person wrote: ‘What we wear doesn’t define who we are. Go Wiggles!’

Not everyone was impressed though, and Em Rusciano had something to say to the doubters.

Some fans wrote, “Umm… sorry, no they can’t. It’s called biology,” one commenter wrote.

“What?! Farewell Wiggles, it’s been fun, but no. Boys can’t be Emma,” one Dad said.

Another was equally concerned about the gender-neutral message. “I have nothing against the LGBT community but please, please, don’t bring it into kids shows. Go my baby watch[es] and loves The Wiggles. Too young to be exposed to this. Just saying, cause that’s how it starts.”

Em soon fixed the naysayers with her response writing: “This is about little boys being encouraged to have female role models! Regardless of their sexuality. Teaching boys to look up to and respect women instead of seeing them as something to own and control will go a long way. Some of the comments she’s copping are MIND BLOWING!”

Do you think it is the wrong message to share with little kids?

Share your comments below

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  • its just getting so annoying that this sort of thing is always an issue. Everyone just be YOU.

    Reply

  • Why are people so worried about their kids being anything that’s not “straight”? I love my kids no matter what; unconditionally. And who’s to say a boy won’t see a woman walking down the street and want to dress like her? And vice versa.

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  • There are so many wonderful things that Emma can do that the other Wiggles members cannot. So of course boys she be able to be inspired by her!

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  • I thought it was a simple and cute post and could not believe the outrage. I know of a little boy who goes to a friend’s daughter’s childcare dressed as Emma Wiggle. It is adorable to see how comfortable and confident he appears with his choice and it should be encouraged. He’s 3. He has enough time to be judged when he’s at school. He should be allowed to be 3 and enjoy all the innocence that comes with that.

    Reply

  • I don’t think they were sending the wrong message , more that everyone has the right to be who they want and like whatever they like.


    • Spot on! People are individuals and they can be what ever they want! :)

    Reply

  • Maybe they should have written it different but most people will get the idea.

    Reply

  • Mmm…. I think I’d have put it differently. That sign doesn’t really convey what everyone’s reading into it.

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  • The implications from the sign are a bit different to her comment about female role models. I have no problem with boys looking to female role models but if that was her message, it needed to be worded a little differently.

    Reply

  • That message was always going to spark controversy.

    Reply

  • No I have no problem with that. My boy always loved to dress up in dresses and tuttu’s and necklaces etc. This band is just relating to the kids in my opinion.

    Reply

  • My son used to wear Tutu’s when he was 2yo, he loved it because his sisters used to wear them for dress up. Needless to say my Sister-in-law thought we were going to make him gay! Ridiculous.

    Reply

  • The message is that you can dress how you want, and boys shouldn’t be limited to only dressing like the male wiggles if Emma is their fave. I think it’s sad that the basic message is being dissected & turned into something it’s not. My son has two sisters & when given the choice he always wants the pink cup, the pink marker, the pink whatever, why? Because his sisters always want them, and he loves his sisters. My daughter is having a fairy party for her 6th birthday & we asked our son how we wanted to dress, he chose to be an elf with fairy wings. Does this mean he’s (gasp) identifying as a girl?!? I don’t think so. But if he ever did he would have our full love & support, because he is who he is. Not because a pair of fairy wings sparked the idea in him.

    Reply

  • Not cool wiggles, not cool. entertain the kids stop pushing social agendas on these poor innocent bloody kids #enough

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  • The message is what you want it to be. My youngest son (6) likes to dress up with a tutu and dance ballet, he also likes the Wiggles. Should I be worried, no I am not as he is having fun exploring what he likes to do. This what I like about the Wiggles, they make children feel what it is like to be someone else.

    Reply

  • my friend’s son dresses up as Emma Wiggle all the time, he is obsessed with her!

    Reply

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