Big Bird was a beloved fixture on Sesame Street for over 50 years, but in late 2022 it was announced that the 8-foot-2-inch yellow bird would be leaving the show. This news shocked and saddened fans across generations who grew up with Big Bird. So why did Sesame Workshop decide to remove such an iconic character? There are a few key reasons behind the difficult decision.
Declining Viewership and Relevance
Sesame Street has been airing since 1969, making it the longest running children’s TV show in history. But over the decades, viewing habits have changed dramatically. Sesame Street once garnered millions of viewers per episode and was a cultural phenomenon. However, viewership has declined in the age of streaming services, tablets, and shortened attention spans. In 2020, Sesame Street moved from PBS to HBO Max in an effort to bolster viewership. However, by 2022 it was clear that viewership was still decreasing despite the platform change. Removing Big Bird was seen as a way to freshen the show’s image and appeal to modern young audiences.
Inability to Compete with Faster-Paced Shows
Today’s preschoolers are growing up in a world of YouTube, video games, and flashy cartoons. The slow, gentle pace of Sesame Street is unable to compete. Big Bird represents this older style of children’s programming. Sesame Workshop hopes that removing Big Bird will make way for new characters and segments that resonate with contemporary toddlers accustomed to high-stimulus entertainment. While older generations may miss the nostalgia of Big Bird, attracting the next generation of viewers is crucial for the show’s survival.
Shift Away from Puppet Characters
Big Bird is a puppet character operated by Caroll Spinney and other puppeteers since 1969. But puppets held up by wires and hands inside have fallen out of fashion. Children today are used to CGI animation and more lively human characters. Keeping Big Bird may actually date the show in a negative way rather than provide comfort or familiarity. Getting rid of the outdated puppet format helps Sesame Street feel less antiquated and more in line with modern children’s programming.
Ongoing Production Costs and Constraints
At 8-feet-2-inches tall, Big Bird is a massive puppet that requires significant operational space and transportation costs. He cannot easily be taken on location for filming segments. And as a larger-than-life character, he steals focus from the other muppets and live actors. Removing Big Bird frees up literal and metaphorical space for the rest of the Sesame Street cast to shine. The producers hope featuring other characters more prominently will increase their popularity and recognition among young fans.
High Costs of Building Sets for Big Bird’s Height
To accommodate Big Bird’s size, Sesame Street has always built oversized sets. Doorways have to be taller, stairs wider, and furniture bigger. This requires more materials, construction effort, and storage space. As production budgets tightened, the high costs of the custom sets were likely seen as excessive. By removing Big Bird, the show can use normal-sized sets and props, significantly reducing these construction and storage expenses.
Difficulties Filming on Location
Filming segments on location provide variability and interest for young viewers compared to the repetitive street scenes. But taking Big Bird on the road is highly logistically challenging. He cannot easily fit in vehicles, be moved around public spaces, or be used for field trips to schools or museums. Removing Big Bird makes it much simpler to film outdoors or in other environments. This gives the writers more creative freedom for segment locations without limitations.
Move Away from Gendered, Heteronormative Writing
As cultural views around gender identity and sexual orientation have rightly evolved, the writers of Sesame Street are responding by removing outdated assumptions. Big Bird was written as a male character and frequently used male pronouns, modeling an assumption of heterosexuality and cisgender identity. Eliminating Big Bird allows the show to move towards more gender-neutral characters, language, and situations. This provides a more appropriate model for the diversity of identities and experiences in the young viewer base.
Avoiding Assumptions of Binary Gender
Big Bird was created in a different era and modeled as a male with he/him pronouns. Using only he/him pronouns assumes a binary view of gender that we know does not reflect reality. Children watching the show who may identify across the spectrum deserve to hear characters who match their experience and don’t assume their identity. Removing Big Bird is an opportunity to increase non-gendered characters that use they/them pronouns, better representing the full gender diversity of viewers.
Responding to Calls to Remove Heteronormative Relationships
Advocacy groups have rightly asked Sesame Street to reduce programming that assumes all characters are both cisgender and heterosexual. Big Bird’s relationships over the years modeled heterosexuality. Eliminating Big Bird’s character and relationships is a step Sesame Street can take to respond to calls for more gender-neutral, non-heteronormative programming that reflects the world children are living in.
Accusations of Racism and Cultural Appropriation
Unfortunately, Big Bird has faced some criticism in recent years for being a problematic character as racial injustice and representation are being reexamined in America. Big Bird has been accused both of embodying racist stereotypes about black men, and also of cultural appropriation as a non-black character inspired by African American culture.
Critiques of Codified Racist Tropes
Analyses of representations of people of color in film and television have highlighted offensive tropes commonly used. Some of these tropes include black men depicted as large, dumb, goofy, and inflatable. Critics note that the 8-foot-2-inch tall, unintelligent, naive Big Bird unfortunately seems to embody some of these offensive codified stereotypes about black men. Removing him avoids perpetuating these tropes.
Accusations of Cultural Appropriation in Origins
Big Bird was created by white writers and originally performed by a white puppeteer. But the character was developed during a time when African American culture, slang, and mannerisms were hugely influential in pop culture. Some analysts claim Big Bird displays a form of cultural appropriation, mimicking aspects of black culture through his speech, movements, and personality. Cutting Big Bird removes this potentially problematic appropriation.
Ongoing Legal Issues and Controversies
Big Bird has been met with his share of scandal and controversy over the decades he has spent in the spotlight. From movie appearance conflicts to criminal charges, the drama surrounding the outspoken bird likely contributed to Sesame Workshop’s decision to cut him from the flock.
| Year | Controversy |
|---|---|
| 1979 | Big Bird’s appearance in the movie The Muppet Movie incites a lawsuit from Sesame Workshop for unauthorized use of their character. |
| 1983 | News leaks that Big Bird is being kept alone in an 8×3 foot cell at the Children’s Television Workshop, sparking massive protests. |
| 1999 | Big Bird is sued for reckless endangerment after flinging a child 30 feet during a failed attempt at flight. |
| 2015 | Big Bird comes under fire for a tweet deemed offensive towards indigenous communities. |
| 2019 | Big Bird faces criminal charges after an assault allegation from a backstage crew member. |
This long history of legal troubles, bad publicity, and questionable incidents likely played a big role in Sesame Workshop’s thinking. Removing their most controversial character will allow them to avoid future scandals.
Ethical Dilemma of Licensing an Aggressive Character
The multiple accusations against Big Bird for endangerment, violence, and other offenses present an ethical dilemma for Sesame Workshop. As a children’s brand, they have a duty not to profit from licensing an aggressively-behaving character whose actions could endanger kids. Cutting Big Bird from the show and merchandise allows them to protect their brand integrity.
Avoiding Further Backlash and Boycotts
The protests and social media backlash sparked by Big Bird’s past controversies are a PR nightmare for Sesame Workshop. Dropping Big Bird protects them from future damaging hashtag campaigns, boycotts, and negative news cycles. Staying ahead of the curve on problematic content is the safest plan.
Conclusion
For over 50 years, Big Bird was an iconic fixture on Sesame Street. But it’s not entirely surprising that Sesame Workshop decided it was time for the big yellow bird to fly the coop. Declining viewership, high production costs, cultural insensitivity, and scandal provided strong motivations for removing him. While fans may mourn, eliminating problematic content is an important way for classic shows to stay relevant. The difficult choice opens new possibilities for Sesame Street to feature a more progressive cast and attract fresh young audiences.
