We were all incredibly excited when the news dropped in October about Bluey being a part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. This was a huge milestone for the Australian animated series, whose popularity on Disney+ has catapulted the Heelers into part of the mainstream zeitgeist. Being honored as a float during this annual event is a huge victory for Bluey, and not something that every cartoon in the U.S. gets to enjoy.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go out without a hitch. Battling aggressive winds while carrying a float is usually the biggest issue while marching down the streets of Manhattan, but Bluey had one other hurdle to get through that has many of her fans upset.
Bluey Controversey at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Bluey phenomenon has spread in a way nobody was prepared for, and that’s what led the Heelers to join this Thanksgiving tradition in the United States. Bluey producer Daley Pearson spoke to the Australian news channel Sunrise about this momentous occasion and informed everyone that Bluey was the first Australian animated character to ever be a part of this parade.
“Being part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a true highlight for Bluey,” said Rebecca Glashow, Chief Executive Officer, Global Distribution, BBC Studios. “This iconic event has long been an important part of the holiday season for kids and families across the U.S. We couldn’t be more excited that Bluey will be there to join this year’s celebration in New York City.”
It took a year to build the big blue float, measuring over 50 feet long, and was ready to go on Thanksgiving day. The winds were manageable and it was a delightful day outside as Bluey took to the air to the delights of thousands in NYC, and millions watching at home.

Unfortunately, there was one major snafu. This parade is broadcast on different stations in the U.S., and the CBS version didn’t quite have their facts right. Hosts Kevin Frazier and Keltie Knight misgendered the poor pup, calling Bluey a “he” instead of “she.” Other networks didn’t run into that problem.
Fans on social media immediately came to the defense of Bluey, calling out CBS for their error. Others were more enraged over how Bluey didn’t have her theme song played, while other floats from cartoon shows did.
Folks who are new to the show often don’t realize Bluey is a girl, mainly because of how gendered colors have become. Many automatically assume Bluey is a boy based purely on her blue colors, since that is usually viewed as a masculine hue. However, it usually doesn’t take long for another character to use her accurate pronoun, and that usually clears things up instantly. Unfortunately for CBS, who didn’t provide their hosts with enough to know that in advance, the telecast has egg on its face that they’ll hopefully correct in the future.
Here’s some raw footage during the parade without commentary, courtesy of Aussie Girl Margie:
Beyond that mistake, Bluey’s debut in the event went off without a hitch. It was still amazing to see this Blue Heeler gently floating down the streets of New York, bringing a smile to the faces of everyone that knew her.
Bluey had a big week in NYC before her entry in the Thanksgiving Day parade, which included the red carpet premiere of Bluey’s Big Play at Madison Square Garden, a guest appearance at the International Emmy’s, and an appearance on the Jimmy Fallon show featuring the voices of Bandit and Chilli, David McCormack and Melanie Zanetti, meeting face-to-face for the first time.
If things go well, Bluey might be a permanent addition to the annual event, but we won’t know anything about that until next autumn. I’ll be looking forward to my Thanksgiving breakfast with Bluey in 2023 and beyond, so Macy’s – lets make it happen!