Disney Villains! – How queer baddies helped save Disney in the ’90s

2026-02-02

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Diving deep into all things ’90s. The Disney Renaissance is usually remembered for its big tunes and Broadway bombast, but one of its most long-lasting impacts is the strength of its villains. From a sea witch inspired by the most transgressive drag queen of the ’80s to a Shakespearean lion schemer voiced by Jeremy Irons, these characters defined the era. Louder, stranger and far more interesting than the nice, beige heroes they were supposed to lose to. This week on Talk ’90s To Me, we’re diving into the gay Dis...

Diving deep into all things ’90s. The Disney Renaissance is usually remembered for its big tunes and Broadway bombast, but one of its most long-lasting impacts is the strength of its villains. From a sea witch inspired by the most transgressive drag queen of the ’80s to a Shakespearean lion schemer voiced by Jeremy Irons, these characters defined the era. Louder, stranger and far more interesting than the nice, beige heroes they were supposed to lose to.

This week on Talk ’90s To Me, we’re diving into the gay Disney villains of the ’90s with comedian and host of Welcome to Hell Dan Foxx. We explore why Disney’s baddies were allowed all the flamboyance its heroes weren’t, how queerness became shorthand for glamour, danger and excess, and why these characters have grown in popularity in the decades since.

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Written and presented by Miranda Sawyer. Produced by Liam Tait. Audio and video production by Tom Taylor. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Soniq Branding from Artlist. Talk ’90s To Me is a Podmasters production.

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