Disney labels fan favorite characters as "potentially problematic" in a new report
Disney recently took a deeper look into some of their characters and labeled a few fan favorites as "potentially problematic." Do you agree with Disney's findings, or do you think this is going to far?
Keep moving forward
Disney is known to be not afraid to make big changes in response to the ever changing world we live in.
Just look at the big changes coming to Splash Mountain, for example. Eventually, Br'er Rabbit will be movin' along, and Princess Tiana will be moving in when Splash Mountain is completely reimagined to a Princess and the Frog themed attraction.
And then there are always the small changes being made, like shackles being removed from Pirates of the Caribbean and even removing names from Tom Sawyer Island.
There have even been removal of films and episodes from several offerings on Disney+, after Disney decided these films depicted outdated cultural depictions. But how much change is too much for Disney?
"Potentially problematic" Disney characters
While going through its library of content for films and shows to put on its streaming service, Disney has labeled a few of its fan favorite characters as "potentially problematic," according to a report from the New York Times.
Disney's "Stories Matter" team was responsible for looking at Disney+ content and flagging potentially problematic characters. The team looked to see if any additional films could require disclaimers on Disney+ for perpetuating negative stereotypes.
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.
Stories Matter Team, to New York Times
Tinker Bell
Tinker Bell, from the classic 1953 Disney animated movie Peter Pan, has now been reportedly labeled "problematic." The team found that this version of Tinker Bell was flagged as a concern because she is "body conscious" and is jealous of Peter Pan's attention towards Wendy in the film.
Captain Hook
From the same film, the Stories Matter team also flagged the popular villain of the story, Captain Hook.
Captain Hook, named for the hook in place of where his hand should be, was reportedly flagged due the potential of exposing Disney to accusations of prejudice against disabled individuals because of his villainous nature.
Ursula
Ursula, the villain in Disney's 1989 animated classic, "The Little Mermaid," has also been labeled as potentially problematic. The team was reportedly concerned with Ursula because of her purple skin and dark complexion, and would expose them to accusations of critics who would see the character as an outdated racist depiction.
Additionally, the team shared Ursula could come across as "queer-coded," since she has mannerisms reportedly inspired in part by those of a "real life drag queen."
Do you agree with the findings that Tinker Bell, Captain Hook, and Ursula are potentially problematic? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or tell us on Facebook.
You have got to be kidding!? I guess I should have someone wave a magic wand and erase my childhood memories too!
This is absurd. This is why I will never subscribe to Disney+. Pretty soon Disney will only appeal to the woke fringe minority.
I’m disabled and have zero problem with Captain Hook. Disney should let people decide for themselves if they like classic characters. It’s insanity! They don’t seem to care if I’m offended by the removal of certain characters or the addition of others. They only care if certain staff/ media/executives members are offended by traditional characters or plots. They have decided upon a narrative and everyone else be darned.
Disney needs to get over its self and stop catering to the fringe elements and go back to entertaining the majority of the world. I'm so sick of their wokeness.
First of all just because he has a hook for a hand does not make him disabled s he is a villain because of the things he does third is just cartoon fun imagination get over it. How does Ursula being purple make her racist do you know any other purple people she is evil because of what she does not because of her skin.
Kinda at a loss for words. Oh I know. Maybe this is like a reality show (sort of like Bar Rescue). Disney's management runs the business into the ground with all kinds of bad decisions and that "guy" comes in to save the day!! Anyway, would that be great if maybe that ends up being the case?
There was a time when people that spoke badly about their employer they got fired now it just get promoted in brain dead California
This is not news. Just some dumb internal stuff Disney is doing that someone leaked to the NYT so they could make it a “story”. Nothing will come of it except Disney looking ridiculous and people thinking these characters are actually getting canceled.
This is ridiculous. I can't anymore.. when will it stop?
This is a slippery slope, as others have said. These characters have been around for generations, and I have yet to see evidence of their hyper-sensitive concerns. Besides, they've already done away with good-guy vs bad-guy storylines, in favor of complex emotional and relational issues that most children won't even grasp, i.e. Frozen and Encanto. Just throw some good songs in a movie, and there you go, it seems. My kids favorite shows are ones like Emperor's New Groove and the original Star Wars. Both had some great villains, and helpful life lessons.
This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of ! There is nothing problematic about about Peter Pan or the Little Mermaid . The color of Ursula skin being purple it's because she's not real. If they keep changing these movies and these fairy tales and stories there won't be anything left to watch. Frankly, I am sick of it, And Disney needs to stop changing things to please every small minded, Narrow minded Person that voices their opinion. I say leave things alone they've been perfect all these years there is no point in changing ,enough isn't enough.
This is just ridiculous! Enough is enough already!!
This is ENOUGH! I believe in including everyone ...but soon we won't be able to wear the color blue because... anything can be construed as improper if you're looking to do so. This is all too much.
This is absolutely ridiculous!!. Disney needs to stay out of politics!!!! They are doing nothing but alienating Disney fans on BOTH sides of the political spectrum. Disney Parks and movies are meant to be an escape from reality, NOT part of reality. It is a world filled of fantasy, imagination and old stories that were created in a different era but still have an underlying meaning that stands the test of time.
The vast majority of people do NOT look at Disney Parks or Disney Entertainment and think they are racist, sexist, or any other kind of -ist. We observe these things for what they are...entertainment. Stop this nonsense before you lose the people that truly make money for Disney.
Hmm, shocking. Villains act....villainous. LOL.
I’m as left as they come and like to think of myself as “woke”, but this is wokeness gone too far. I am disabled and have no problem with Captain Hook. I’m also LGBT+ and have no problem with Ursula. They’re both awesome villains. I’m all for changing blatantly racist and actual offensive stuff (like on Tom Sawyer Island), but “potentially offensive” is a different beast. If Disney are looking for ”potentially offensive” stuff in their characters, they’re gonna find it - even in their newest ones like Encanto.
You can't fix stupid! BUT you can stay away from it!
Actually IMO Disney is aiming at the "Brainwashed Generation" as its coming core clientele, assuming those of us who remember the older characters are dying off and being replaced by them.
Disney is cancelling itself.
You can't make this craziness up. It would be laughable if it wasn't so sad. Good grief, Disney.
So sick of Disney right now! I hope they lose so much money this coming year… Absolutely ridiculous
pretty soon cinderella will be cast by a guy!
This is ridiculous...just people with TOO much time on their hands! Get a life!!!
I. Just. Wow…
I think people have way too much time on their hands. Tinker Bell is a Pixie, Captain Hook is a villainous pirate, and Ursula is an octopus sea witch, nothing more, nothing less. Get on with life folks. This is just getting unfathomably dumb.
This is ridiculous! I'm getting so sick of Disney and their 'woke-ism'! These are characters that so many people love! Tinker Bell is problematic?! Give me a break! She was my daughter's favorite character and we loved watching all the Tinker Bell movies when she was little. Honestly, I still like them! With people out there already protesting Disney, cancelling Disney+, etc, they should refrain from 'rocking the boat' anymore. They are alienating more and more fans. Disney needs to keep the magic and stop messing with something that was our happy place. They are making it miserable!