In the wake of the World Emoji Day celebration, the Unicode Consortium unveiled its upcoming batch of emojis slated for release in Unicode 17.0 this September. However, amid the excitement, a surprising controversy emerged. Despite abundant cultural anticipation and even petitions, the highly requested Bigfoot emoji was referred to only as a generic “hairy creature,” effectively sidestepping respect for the legendary cryptid’s name. This development has sparked debate among fans, emoji enthusiasts, and digital archaeologists alike.
The Emoji Preview: A Hairy Mystery
First, let’s consider what Unicode announced. The preview includes nine new emoji candidates:
- Apple Core
- Ballet Dancer
- Distorted Face
- Fight Cloud
- Hairy Creature (the one resembling Bigfoot)
- Landslide
- Orca
- Treasure Chest
- Trombone AppleInsider+10Gadget Hacks+10The Verge+10The Verge
Many outlets, including MacRumors and AppleInsider, immediately noted the resemblance to Bigfoot or Sasquatch. Apple’s own previews show what unmistakably appears as Bigfoot—a large, bipedal, hairy figure MacRumors. Yet, Unicode deliberately avoided calling it by that name.
Why the Name Matters
Unicode defines names carefully—they aim for cultural neutrality and to encompass possible future meanings. However, this choice raises some questions:
- Disrespect to folklore: To many, Bigfoot is more than a mythical creature—it’s a cultural icon with roots in Native American stories and North American lore.
- Vague descriptors can obscure identity: Without the name Bigfoot, users may hesitate to identify or search the emoji correctly.
- Community backlash: Some feel their voice was ignored despite petitions and broad demand for the iconic Sasquatch representation.
Petitioners made their pleas loud and clear
A year earlier, passionate fans created Change.org petitions—like “Plead to Unicode: Make the Fog Bank Bigfoot the Official Bigfoot Emoji”—urging Unicode to respect the creature’s legendary name instead of using a vague label Change.org+1Change.org+1.
Highlights included:
“There are emojis for unicorns, trolls, even poop—but somehow, Bigfoot, the most legendary cryptid of them all, still hasn’t made it into the emoji lexicon.” AppleInsider+14Change.org+14Change.org+14
Supporters argued from authenticity, cultural identity, and aesthetic perspective—but Unicode remained firm in preserving genre‑neutral classification.
Unicode’s rationale: consistency over specificity
Unicode follows strict naming rules—they choose names based on broad consensus and avoid terms tied to trademarks or disputed folklore. Here’s their reasoning:
- The new emoji fits a general “hairy creature” category and could represent yeti, sasquatch, or even fantasy beasts.
- Using “Bigfoot” would narrow the emoji, risking exclusion of similar mythical creatures in other cultures.
- Unicode’s naming guidelines prioritize descriptive Unicode labels, not popular culture references.
So, they named it “hairy creature”—a neutral, catch‑all descriptor intended to sidestep copyright or ambiguity issues.
Timeline: Emoji 17.0 arrives soon
According to Smartphone GadgetHacks and other sources, the Unicode 17.0 draft—featuring the hairy creature emoji—is expected to be finalized by September 2025 Change.orgMacRumors+4Gadget Hacks+4Gadget Hacks+4. Following this:
- Apple will likely release it as part of iOS 26.4 in early 2026 Google News+4MacRumors+4MacRumors+4.
- Android may include it in its Android 17 update by mid‑2026.
Thus, although the design resembles Bigfoot, official platforms will label it as “hairy creature”—avoiding the controversial name.
Public reaction: mixed, but spirited
From Reddit communities to social media platforms like X, opinions are divided:
- Some welcome the diversity of new emojis and don’t mind the neutral name.
- Others critique the decision, calling it a “missed opportunity” to celebrate a piece of North American folklore.
Emoji advocates point out that millions of users likely bypass Unicode names entirely—relying on visual appearance in their daily texts Macworld+9Reddit+9Gadget Hacks+9MacRumors+10Macworld+10Gadget Hacks+10. Yet for the lexicon and historians, the label shift matters.
Cultural and linguistic implications
This naming dispute reveals broader tensions around:
- Cultural recognition: Can folklore earn official representation in digital lingua franca?
- Global inclusivity: Unicode aims to serve worldwide audiences, where Bigfoot may be unknown.
- Naming conventions: The balance between accuracy, neutrality, and user expectations is tricky.
Hence, Unicode chose universal terms, but at the cost of identity and authenticity for some communities.
What’s next?
- Emoji 17.0 official release in September
- Design adoption by tech platforms like Apple and Google
- Community debates: Expect ongoing discussions about whether future emoji should include folklore-specific names
- User workarounds: Enthusiasts may call the emoji “Bigfoot” informally in message threads, even if UI labels differ
Summary Table
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Emoji design | Bipedal, hairy creature—resembles Bigfoot |
| Official name | Hairy Creature |
| Community stance | Many call it Bigfoot, feeling culturally snubbed |
| Unicode policy | Aim for neutrality and broad applicability |
| Expected rollout | September 2025 (standard), early‑mid 2026 on devices |
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Unicode’s refusal to officially label the emoji as Bigfoot reflects their internal rules and concerns about cultural specificity. While this maintains global usability, it has also disappointed a passionate fanbase eager to see the cryptid represented by name.
Symbolically, this debate touches on modern questions: How many legends deserve official recognition? Can digital standards capture cultural nuance? And in a world where memes meet folklore, who decides what becomes part of our shared emoji language?
For now, users will continue typing “hairy creature” in app stores—and watch the emoji roll out next year. Yet, those who believe words matter will keep calling it Bigfoot, petitioning for a richer, more respectful digital future.
