Disney+ is attempting to shield children from its racist and problematic history by removing and archiving scenes and flicks from its streaming platform.
“Dumbo,” “The Aristocats,” “Peter Pan,” and more are just some of the films that have made the “under 7” list on Disney+. If the films made this list, it contains racist or inappropriate content that isn’t appropriate for children older than 7. According to the New York Post, settings on the app will block movies from ever showing up on a young viewers’ profile.
This moves as part of Disney’s “Stories Matter” mission, which is Disney’s initiative to confront its troubled, racist past head-on by removing it from its platform and acknowledging its harmful imagery and messaging.
“Stories shape how we see ourselves and everyone around us. So as storytellers, we have the power and responsibility to not only uplift and inspire, but also consciously, purposefully and relentlessly champion the spectrum of voices and perspectives in our world,” reads The Walt Disney Company’s Stories Matter section.
“Because happily ever after doesn’t just happen. It takes effort. Effort we are making. As part of our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, we are in the process of reviewing our library and adding advisories to content that includes negative depictions or mistreatment of people or cultures. Rather than removing this content, we see an opportunity to spark conversation and open dialogue on history that affects us all. We also want to acknowledge that some communities have been erased or forgotten altogether, and we’re committed to giving voice to their stories as well,” the statement continues.
“We can’t change the past, but we can acknowledge it, learn from it and move forward together to create a tomorrow that today can only dream of.”
Some of the clips you won’t see anymore is the infamous “Dumbo” scene with the crows. “The leader of the group in Dumbo is Jim Crow, which shares the name of laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States,” per the site. Siamese cat’s from “The Aristocats” were also removed because of the “exaggerated stereotypical traits” such as “slanted eyes and buck teeth” among others.
