Chrystia Freeland's Disney+ comments upset Canadians: 'Insulting on multiple levels'
Canadians are puzzled by a comment made by Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, in which she offered a personal example of a way she's cutting back on spending for her family amid soaring inflation and rising prices.
Speaking in an interview with Global News, Chrystia Freeland touched on topics like inflation, the spike in cost of living and what the Liberal government is doing to help during these exceptionally challenging times.
Freeland acknowledged Canadians are looking closely at the way they’re spending and offered an example of one way her family is cutting back on monthly expenses.
“I personally, as a mother and wife, look carefully at my credit card bill once a month,” she said. “And last Sunday, I said to the kids, ‘you’re older now. You don’t watch Disney anymore. Let’s cut that Disney+ subscription. So we cut it. It’s only $13.99 a month that we’re saving, but every little bit helps.”
Many on social media took issue with that comment, describing it as tone-deaf and out of touch, considering her salary is in the six digits.
Chrystia Freeland has a tip for families struggling with inflation. Canada's Finance Minister suggests they follow her example and cut their @DisneyPlus subscription.
pic.twitter.com/SBvm5CE7sB— inklessPR 💎 (@inklessPR) November 6, 2022
Dear Chrystia Freeland,
If you are telling Canadians to cut their Disney+ subscription to save 13 bucks month due to record high inflation you have failed as a Finance Minister.
Please resign.@cafreeland— Zachary Tisdale 🇨🇦 (@ztisdale) November 6, 2022
Many Canadians have difficulty putting food on the table and paying rent, so this is more than a bit tone deaf, but perhaps doing without Disney Plus is really a major hardship for Freeland and her family. 😬 https://t.co/nfII3BHQC6
— Rupa Subramanya (@rupasubramanya) November 6, 2022
You know one thing that really bothers me about Freeland's ignorant Disney Plus comment?
The idea that struggling people should have nothing that makes them happy at all. Their entire lives should just be misery and trying to survive.
That is a ghoulish outlook.— Rick Calder (@calder12) November 7, 2022
I set up a GoFundMe to help Chrystia Freeland's kids keep their Disney+ subscription. Please donate! pic.twitter.com/x5gSa0gn8A
— SmallCapSteve (@smallcapsteve) November 7, 2022
So the way to be a good Canadian mother and survive financially is to cut Disney+? Am I doing this right?
Chrystia Freeland’s comments are downright insulting on multiple levels.— Stephanie (@upstephanie) November 6, 2022
Unbelievable. Might as well have said “let them eat cake” #Freeland #Disney
— ᕆᔑᓪ ᐱᑎ Richelle Beatty (@MizBeets) November 7, 2022
Freeland: My kids had to give up their Disney+ subscription
Millennials: We had to give up on having kids#cdnpoli https://t.co/8UIla2iSek— Rohana Rezel (@rohanarezel) November 6, 2022
I cancelled my Disney+ membership and now I can afford a house down-payment.... in 208 years! Thanks for the HOT financial tip Chrystia Freeland!
— 𝔇𝔞𝔯𝔯𝔢𝔫 (@darren_fm) November 7, 2022
Others felt Freeland’s statement was taken out of context.
This Christia Freeland/Disney+ is taken out of context.
1. She said she examines her budget to eliminate spending money for something she no longer finds value in.
2. She said families are doing that across Canada. She didn’t say “cancel Disney+ to get by.”
1/3— Tom is masking, voting & tweeting (@mapleservo) November 6, 2022
I honestly think she was talking about cutting the extra things we do not need and used Disney plus as an example. People have a hard time understanding times are going to be hard.
— Kane Lambert (@KaneLambert3) November 7, 2022
In the interview, Freeland said that the government had already announced in April’s federal budget that it would look to find $9 billion in savings.
