Star Swirl the Bearded was only one of a whole clan, including Star Swirl the Colorblind, Star Swirl the Dwarf, Star Swirl the Mare Toy, and Star Swirl the Pancreatic Cancer Patient. Basically a whole Rogue’s Legacy situation.

@Background Pony
 
Well,the fact that they know and used Star Swirl for the G4 cartoon proves that they did check out previous generations.
 
I suppose we can call it a different portrayal/interpretation,but just for the show.
 
They did the same with Lickety Split,who is female but they changed her into a colt in Secret of my excess.
 
But since Star Swirl the Bearded is just a historical figure we didn’t know much about leaves room for different interpretations for the fandom,like making Star Swirl a female all along but cross-dressing as a male,for example.So it’s not much of a problem in the long term.
 
Plus,there’s still the chance that the show staff can still use Female!Star Swirl as a descendant of Star Swirl the Bearded.They have her toy so…

@Amber  
so the writers didn’t see the previous gens either?
 
if the show retcons starswirl’s gender now, the writers are truly incompetent mouthbreathers

@Background Pony
 
Star Swirl is a mare.
 
Even in this generation is a mare.Check out her toy.
 
What happens is that the show refers of him being a stallion…so it’s normal people aren’t aware of her origins.
 
So we got Show!Star Swirl (who is Star Swirl the bearded) and Toy!Star Swirl who is the standard Star Swirl.

@Background Pony  
Yes she was. Haven’t you seen the previous generations?

star swirl wasn’t a mare