Fans Protest Cancellation of 'Andi Mack,' First Disney Channel Show to Feature a Gay Character
Disney Channel’s groundbreaking show Andi Mack has been canceled — and fans are not happy about it.
The coming-of-age sitcom will end after season 3, the network announced Wednesday. The show, which has been on hiatus since March 1, will return on June 21 for its final episodes.
Andi Mack centered around a 13-year-old girl named Andi (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) and her relationships with her family and two best friends.
The acclaimed show became the network’s first series to feature an openly gay character.
“Andi Mack was a labor of love for a room of impassioned, inventive writers, a talented and dedicated crew, and an extraordinary, miraculous cast who inspired us all,” creator Terri Minsky said in a statement. “We had the honor of breaking a lot of new ground for Disney Channel. We were its first serialized show, its first series centered around an Asian-American family and its first to feature an LGBTQ character who spoke the words, ‘I’m gay.'”
Gary Marsh, president of the Disney Channel, also released a statement: “Three years ago, we challenged Terri Minsky to create a new series that expanded and broadened the Disney Channel brand. And so was born ‘Andi Mack.’ We are forever grateful to Terri, her talented team and the outstanding cast, led by Peyton Elizabeth Lee, for delivering a meaningful and satisfying conclusion to three wonderful seasons of this brilliant series.”
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After news of the cancelation broke, fans expressed their outrage on social media. The hashtag #renewandimack quickly began trending.
“I’m not letting disney take something that makes my friends and thousands of misrepresented minorities feel represented,” wrote one Twitter user.
im not letting disney take something that makes my friends and thousands of misrepresented minorities feel represented #renewandimack
— #renewandimack (@atsugawas) April 24, 2019
Another fan said the show helped him feel “less alone.”
“I just can’t accept this? This is the show that made my parents realize I wasn’t lying about my anxiety, the show that made me feel less alone when it showed Jonah having a panic attack in public, the show that constantly brought me joy.”
I just can’t accept this? This is the show that made my parents realize I wasn’t lying about my anxiety, the show that made me feel less alone when it showed Jonah having a panic attack in public, the show that constantly brought me joy. #saveandimack#RenewAndiMack
— hannah #SaveAndiMack (@joyfulcyrus) April 24, 2019
we are going to annoy disney channel until we get what we want periodt #RenewAndiMack
— beth is flooring disney (@crazylilias) April 24, 2019
andi mack has touched on many crucial topics like teen pregnancy, mental health, learning disabilities, coming to terms with sexuality, gun safety, peer pressure, and much more. this show is ao incredibly important and it DESERVES another season #RENEWANDIMACK#SAVEANDIMACK
— emi?? (@CLASSlCTJ) April 24, 2019
“Andi mack has touched on many crucial topics like teen pregnancy, mental health, learning disabilities, coming to terms with sexuality, gun safety, peer pressure, and much more. this show is so incredibly important and it DESERVES another season,” wrote a fan.
The series finale of Andi Mack is set to air on July 26 on the Disney Channel.
