Wonder Woman named special UN ambassador despite protests
NEW YORK — The United Nations celebrated Wonder Woman’s 75th birthday on Friday by naming the comic book character as its new Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Woman and Girls, despite frustration from both inside and outside the world organisation that the spot should go to a real — and less sexualized — woman.
The ceremony at the Economic and Social Council chamber, was marred by some 50 UN staffers who silently turned their back to the stage, some with their fists in the air.
The super heroine’s image will be used by the UN on social media platforms to promote women’s empowerment, including on genderbased violence and the fuller participation of women in public life (using the hashtag WithWonderWoman). The push, hoping to reach young people, is backed by DC Entertainment and Warner Bros., which produce both comics and films featuring Wonder Woman.
But an online petition, started by UN staffers, asked the secretarygeneral to reconsider the appointment, saying “The message the United Nations is sending to the world with this appointment is extremely disappointing”. As of Friday afternoon, it had more than 1,000 signatures.
Honorary ambassadors — as opposed to goodwill ambassadors like Nicole Kidman and Anne Hathaway — are fictional characters. The UN previously tapped Winnie the Pooh to be an honorary Ambassador of Friendship in 1998 and Tinker Bell as the honorary Ambassador of Green in 2009. But the protest on Friday seemed to unnerve many of the UN’s press officers. The event brought together actress Lynda Carter, who played Wonder Woman in the 1970s TV series, and Gal Gadot, who has taken on the role in the forthcoming Wonder Woman film, as well as Girl Scouts in Wonder Woman Tshirts and UN staffers’ kids who skipped school.
Diane Nelson, president of DC Entertainment, gave a speech in which she argued that stories — even comic book stories — can “inspire, teach and reveal injustices”.
Carter, who gave a moving speech about how Wonder Woman embodies the inner strength of every woman, was the only one to acknowledge the protesters in her remarks, saying “Please embrace her. To all those who don’t think it’s a good idea, stand up and be counted.”
Afterward, she said: “It’s OK that not everyone agrees, but get over it and say, ‘What else is new?’” The actress noted that she has weathered criticism of the role for years. “In the beginning, in the ‘70s, it was ‘Well, she’s objectified.’ It’s like, ‘She’s too tall, she’s too this, she’s too this,’” Carter said. ‘Oh, she wants to be a feminist?’”