Disney’s new streaming service is warning fans that they may encounter “outdated cultural depictions” while watching some of its older content, it’s a sign of the changing times.
According to Fox News, after its launch yesterday, Disney+ users noticed that some of the company’s classic content such as “Dumbo” (1941), The Aristocats (1970), “The Jungle Book” (1967) and the original “Lady and the Tramp” (1955) all contain a warning at the end of their respective descriptions.
The warnings are there to caution sensitive fans that what they are about to watch contains racial portrayals that might be triggering or offensive to viewers.
“This program is presented as originally created,” the warning at the end of each description reads. “It may contain outdated cultural depictions.”
The content warning seems to stem from the films having characters, or in some cases songs, that contain racially offensive stereotypes.
Classic movies like “Dumbo” have been criticized in the past for depicting two wise-cracking crows that speak in stereotypical African-American voices, played by a white actor. “The Jungle Book” also has the same issue with some of its characters, particularly a group of monkeys, being portrayed with negative, dated African and African-American characteristics.
“Lady and the Tramp” features the problematic “We Are Siamese” song performed by two cats speaking in stereotypical Asian accents, drawn with large buck teeth.
The classic movie “Song of the South,” will not even be featured on the Disney+ app at all. Even though it won an Oscar for its original song “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” the 1946 film has been largely criticized for decades for its depiction of post-Civil War African-Americans.
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