Turning Red 9/11 Debate

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About

Turning Red 9/11 Debate refers to a viral discussion spawned by YouTuber Mr. Enter's review of the 2022 animated film Turning Red. In the review, Mr. Enter argues that despite being set in 2002, the film chooses not to mention or recognize the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks. After a clip from the review was posted to Twitter, the argument became a subject of jokes as users created memes tying in Turning Red and 9/11.

Origin

On April 14th, 2022, YouTuber^[1] TheMysteriousMrEnter (also known as Mr. Enter) uploaded his review of the animated Pixar film Turning Red. In one part of the review, Mr. Enter argues that the film, set in Toronto, Canada, in 2002, chooses not to recognize the impact of the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks on the sociopolitical climate in the Western countries. The video (shown below) gained over 68,000 views in five days.

This film takes place less than a year after the September 11 terrorist attacks. I bring this up because it radically altered the culture of the time in ways that make this movie feel exceptionally ignorant of the time. Even though literallty the only reason I can comprehend this movie is set explicitly in 2002 is because the director grew up in that exact year. Yes, this film takes place in Canada, not the United States, but all over the Western World: Canada, America, the UK, much of Europe – people were paranoid because 9/11 wasn't the on;y terror attack that had happened! It was the major theme of the decade! I mean I can understand not wanting everyone to be so fearful as that goes against the tone the movie is trying to establish. But then you have very awkward moments if you actually were there and if you do actually remember the time period.

On April 15th, 2022, Twitter^[2] user @CocoaFox023 shard a clip from the interview on the website, with the post garnering over 8 million views, 5,500 retweets and 84,400 likes in four days (shown below).

Spread

Starting on April 15th. as @CocoaFox023's went viral on Twitter, Mr. Enter's argument became a subject of jokes and discussions on the website. For example, Twitter^[3] user @lackingsaint quote tweeted the post, with the tweet gaining over 4,500 retweets and 57,500 likes in four days (shown below, left). Later on the same day, Twitter^[4] user @fwong wrote that 2002 was the year when the film The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was released, with the tweet accumulating over 9,000 retweets adn 141,600 likes in three days (shown below, right).

The discussion inspired memes and fan art referencing Mr. Enter's review. For example, on April 15th, Twitter^[5] user @R8dn_ posted a drawing tying in Turning Red and 9/11 that received over 1,600 retweets and 13,600 likes (shown below, left). Later on the same day, Twitter^[6] user @TheThingEver posted a meme that accumulated over 16,700 retweets and 205,000 likes in three days (shown below, right).

On April 15th, 2022, Mr. Enter (@MrEnterOfficial) responded to the controversy in a tweet^[7] that gained 1,700 quote tweets against 590 likes (effectively getting collectively ratioed; shown below, left). On April 16th, Twitter^[8] user @JernnyENicholson posted a screenshot of Mr. Enter's tweet, commenting on it, with the post gaining over 1,700 retweets and 28.400 likes in three days (shown below, right).

The discussion entered Twitter trends under "Mr. Enter," gaining over 15,100 tweets in one day.