Wonder Woman dumped as special UN envoy

Wonder Woman

NEW YORK—The comic book heroine Wonder Woman has been abruptly fired from her honorary ambassador job at the United Nations following protests from both inside and outside the world organization that a white, skimpily dressed American prone to violence wasn’t the best role model for girls.

Rheal LeBlanc, head of press and external relations, said on Tuesday the appointment of Wonder Woman as an Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls would end this week, less than two months after a splashy ceremony at the United Nations, which attracted actresses Lynda Carter, who had played Wonder Woman in the 1970s TV series, and Gal Gadot, who had taken on the role in the forthcoming “Wonder Woman” film.

Tone deaf

Critics said the appointment was tone deaf at a time when real women are fighting against sexual exploitation and abuse, and that there were plenty of real heroines that could be the face for gender equality.

“It’s ending because it’s ending. And it was always meant to end,” UN spokesperson Jeffrey A. Brez told The Associated Press (AP).

“The objective was to reach out to Wonder Woman’s fans and I think we did a great job of that,” he added.

Brez said campaigns using fictional characters often lasted no longer than a few months.

In a statement, DC Entertainment, which owns the Wonder Woman title, said it was “extremely pleased with the awareness that this partnership brought,” as well as “elevating the global conversation around the empowerment of women and girls.”

“Wonder Woman stands for peace, justice and equality, and for 75 years she has been a motivating force for many and will continue to be long after the conclusion of her UN Honorary Ambassadorship,” said Courtney Simmons, from DC Entertainment.

Wonder Woman first appeared in 1941, fighting villains, rescuing victims and unearthing evil plots.

Wonder Woman’s image was to be used by the United Nations on social media platforms to promote women’s empowerment, including on gender-based violence and the fuller participation of women in public life.

Defenders of the decision pointed to the character’s pioneering, feminist roots and her muscular bravery.

But an online petition, started by UN staffers and signed by more than 44,000 people, asked the secretary general to reconsider the appointment, saying the message that the United Nations was “sending to the world with this appointment is extremely disappointing.” —REPORTS FROM THE WIRES