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Controversial ‘Bluey’ Balloon to Appear in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, But Fans Fear a Repeat of Last Year’s Debacle

disney's blue macy's parade
Credit: Macy's/Disney/Canva

Disney’s Bluey will make an appearance at the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and while fans of the children’s show are thrilled that the little blue heeler will be part of the festivities, they’re just hoping that things don’t turn out like they did when Bluey showed up in the parade last year.

RELATED: The Link Between Disney’s ‘Bluey’ and an International Crime Ring Makes Perfect Sense

bluey in macy's parade 2022

Credit: Macy’s/Disney/Canva

A Look Back at the Macy’s Parade in 2022

When news that Bluey would be part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was announced in 2022, fans of the hit Australian children’s show on Disney Junior, Disney Channel, and Disney+ could barely contain their excitement. Some immediately put a note on the calendar, including the date, time, and channel, so they wouldn’t miss the event. Others immediately got online to compare deals on airfare to New York City. Others were just thankful that the little blue pup would be participating in the parade.

bluey macy's thanksgiving day parade

Credit: Macy’s/Canva

RELATED: Parents Are Strongly Cautioned About Allowing Their Children Watch Disney’s ‘Bluey’

When the big day finally rolled around, fans were ecstatic–especially those who were there in person to witness Bluey’s aerial debut with their own eyes. The excitement of fans at home and in the crowds that lined the streets of New York City was palpable–and somewhat contagious.

Bluey herself was thrilled about being invited to New York City to take part in such a long-standing American tradition–especially as she’s not accustomed to celebrating Thanksgiving. Most of Bluey’s native Australia doesn’t observe the November holiday. Bluey’s from Brisbane, and one of the only places in the country that observes Thanksgiving is Norfolk Island, some 914 miles–or as Bluey would say, 1,471 kilometers–east of Brisbane.

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7 Reasons Why We Want To Live In Bluey's House - realestate.com.au

Credit: Disney

Shortly before the parade began on live television, the Official Bluey TV account on X, formerly Twitter, alerted eager fans that it was “almost time for Bluey to take [to] the skies” at the parade.

A Thrilling (and HUGE) Spectacle

The 96th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, hosted by Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Dylan Dreyer, kicked off just before 9:00 a.m. Eastern in New York City. Crowds that lined West 77th Street and along a path from West 59th Street to West 38th, as well as areas surrounding Central Park and elsewhere–and even those at home watching the event live on NBC and Peacock–cheered and clapped as giant parade floats began to come into view.

And when Bluey’s balloon appeared in the distance, it was sheer magic for kids (and their parents) along the parade route. She was a big girl in the parade, too–quite literally–at approximately 19 1/2 feet tall, 49 feet long, and 36 feet wide.

bluey float macy's thanksgiving day parade 2022

Credit: ABC

Social media platforms were on fire with live streams of the parade and photos of the giant balloon inspired by Disney’s Bluey, each captioned with the excited words of thousands and thousands of adoring Bluey fans. And the excitement might have just broken the internet that Thanksgiving Day had it not been for the introduction of the balloon, made by commentators from CBS.

RELATED: Disney’s ‘Bluey’ Brings an Early Death to a Disney Parks Fan Tradition

Bluey Has a Gender Crisis, Thanks to CBS

From the introduction of the Bluey balloon and throughout their dialogue about the balloon, CBS commentators referred to Bluey as a boy, saying “he,” “him,” and “his.” And while such a misstep wouldn’t have bothered those who aren’t fans, those who love Bluey were enraged.

RELATED: One Clueless ‘Bluey’ Fans Gets a Lesson He’ll Never Forget

The very ones who had been enjoying the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade only minutes earlier suddenly took to social media to call out the commentators–but only those at CBS–as they pointed out that NBC’s hosts knew Bluey was a girl and referred to her as such.

Adam Kiesel took to X, formerly Twitter, to call out the CBS team, telling them not to “disrespect the [G.O.A.T.] like that” (greatest of all time).

Eve From Arkansas wanted to know if the CBS crew had ever even seen Disney’s Bluey, and user ImpSimp responded with a GIF of Bluey saying, “I’m a girl” on repeat.

https://twitter.com/TheImpSimp/status/1595883271149453312

The outrage sparked by the so-called misgendering of Bluey only escalated as the day went on, prompting some to think back on another blue pup from a popular children’s program who was routinely misgendered.

Bluey at the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The good news is that fans (and their kids) will have yet another chance to see Bluey in New York City when the 97th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off on Thanksgiving Day 2023. The event will be live, beginning just before 9:00 a.m. Eastern, and will be broadcast from 9:00 a.m. to noon Eastern.

bluey balloon macy's parade 2022

Credit: Macy’s/ABC

Bluey will be there, along with Grogu from The Mandalorian on Disney+, and Mickey and Minnie will make an appearance on a “decked” out float from Disney Cruise Line, inspired by the line’s newest fleet member, the Disney Wish.

 

disney cruise line disney treasure float macys parade 2023

Credit: Disney/Macy’s

And who knows? The CBS commentators have had nearly a year to catch an episode or two of Disney’s Bluey, so maybe they’ll get it right this year. (And we know they didn’t stop watching at just one or two episodes!)

Catch Bluey in the 97th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, November 24 (Thanksgiving Day), at 9:00 a.m. Eastern on NBC and Peacock.

About Becky Burkett

Becky's from the Lone Star State and has been writing since she was 10 and encountered her first Disney Park when she was 11. It was love at first Main Street Electrical Parade. Joy is blank lined journals, 0.7 mm pens, and all things Walt, Woody and Buzz, PIXAR, Imagineering, Sleeping Beauty (make it blue!), Disney Parks history and EPCOT. At Disney World, you'll find her croonin' with the birdies at the Enchanted Tiki Room or hangin' with Woody and the gang at Toy Story Land. If you can dream, you really can do it!