#hehe height difference go brrrr

[rabbarot]

You make my bomb ticking, babe <3

[strawberry-jellicle]

This is your open invitation to infodump about an opinion you've been wanting to share. Go off, friend 💙

I wanted to talk about this for a while on this hellsite.

THE RUM TUM TUGGER ISN'T AN ABUSIVE DUMBASS

Let me explain.

First off, y'all need to stop applying ye ol yaoi ship tropes to anything mlm that has a height difference so jot that down. (Y'all know who y'all are).

Second, y'all need to stop treating sex positive characters like they're just mindless sex machines. Tugger is sex positive character but he's got more personality than just "hehe bisexual cat has sex with everyone and goes brrrr"!

Third, call it the projection but literally people misinterpret him. Tugger isn't a dumb asshole. Like yeah he's rambunctious, loves attention, and is a party animal, but he's also clearly shown to have deep respect and love for those around him. Tugger's like that 21 year old dude who is here for the laffs and has that good ol ADHD. He's a little shit but he's not malicious or out to get anybody.

Fourth, his song calls him a "curious cat" and "artful and knowing". He's clearly a smart cat that, yes gets stuck in things, but he's always exploring and learning things. He is possibly one of the smartest cats in the junkyard. He's curious! He's gonna go explore and obtain knowledge from his shenanigans!

Fifth, even though he does get up to funny stuff, he still clearly knows when to back off and pay respects. During Old Deuteronomy, Tugger sings about Deuteronomy alongside Munkustrap with the utmost respect and awe. And after Deuteronomy is settled in, Tugger does go to check up on him multiple times during the ball (in the 98 film at least).

Sixth, he clearly loves hyping up those around him and isn't an airheaded asshole. Ship it or not, but Tugger showed a lot of character development when singing for/with Mistoffelees near the end of the musical. He spends 5+ minutes doing nothing but singing about a cat other than himself and showing them off to the tribe! And after Deut is brought back, instead of taking the credit for himself he turns Deut towards Misto and is like "hey! This is the guy who did it! Not me!" Which, again, big character depth for a cat who thrives off the spotlight!

Tugger's just a silly kitty with ADHD/Autism who is here for a good time and loves those around him. He's a complex character that I hold so close to me and I hate when bisexual coded sex positive characters get misrepresented! You can headcanon him how you want, but don't take away the fact that he's a good character.