Asking a Question Is Not an Attack: On Tone Policing and Talking Lions

I posted about Meryl Streep voicing Aslan in the new The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe adaptation. People were losing their minds because Aslan represents Jesus—and somehow, in the eyes of some folks, a woman voicing Jesus (as a talking lion, mind you) was the bridge too far.

Let’s recap:

You’re fine with Jesus as a massive, regal jungle cat.

You’re fine with Jesus as a fictional character in a world of witches, fauns, and resurrection symbolism.

But make that lion sound like a woman? Suddenly it’s blasphemy.

Just when you think you’ve reached the summit of misogyny, someone builds a higher ledge.

Then someone commented:

“Also dependant on whether the other characters maintain the he/him pronouns despite having a female voice.”

So I asked:

“What is a ‘female voice’?”

No sarcasm. No anger. Just a genuine question about a phrase that deserves some interrogation.

The response?

That I had “jumped” on them. That I “just want to argue.” That they didn’t want to engage and wished me well.

That’s what tone policing looks like.

Tone policing is when someone ignores the substance of what you’re saying and instead critiques how you said it. It’s a common tactic used to silence marginalized voices under the guise of “civility.” And here’s the kicker: it doesn’t matter how calmly or respectfully you speak—your tone will still be labeled as hostile if your message challenges someone’s worldview.

Because the issue isn’t really tone. It’s discomfort. And instead of sitting with that discomfort and reflecting, some folks redirect it onto the person who sparked it.

So let’s get real:

• There’s no such thing as a “female voice.”

• Gendered voices are a social construct.

• Trans people exist. Nonbinary people exist. Voice ≠ gender.

• Jesus has been played by every gender and race under the sun—and in this case, possibly a lion voiced by the greatest actor of our time.

And if asking “What is a female voice?” is too aggressive for you, I’d invite you to reflect on why that is.

Because if your version of allyship or open-mindedness crumbles at the first sign of a follow-up question, it might be time to re-examine what you’re actually defending.