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Credit: DisneyNow that we know Disney is still including films with controversial scenes on its new streaming service, Disney+, and excluding others (like Song of the South), fans finally have access to pretty much every classic animated Disney movie they could think of. But as Disney adds content warnings to the descriptions of films that contain scenes with culturally sensitive content, fans say that it’s become clear just how racist old Disney movies are.
As you can see in the screenshots above taken from Disney+, Disney has added a short message to every Disney film that the company believes contains “outdated cultural depictions.” And while some may think that the message is unnecessary, others say that it allows Disney to point out the flaws in its old films while still keeping them as they originally were when they were first released.
Many think that if Disney were to edit the problematic and controversial material out of its classic movies, the company would be erasing history. And others — many of whom don’t believe Disney films actually contain racist material — think that there’s no reason for the films to not be on Disney+ as is. So it looks like this brief content warning within the descriptions of Disney films is the company’s way of addressing the issue while not erasing its history.
Still, Disney fans have taken to social media to voice their opinions — and it seems since Disney+ has opened up the Disney Vault, fans of all ages are now able to see just how problematic Disney content used to be. Many who admit that it has been a while since they’ve seen films like Peter Pan and The Aristocats — which were released decades ago and include racist depictions of Native Americans and Asians, respectively — say that they never realized just how culturally insensitive these films were.
Here’s what the Disney fan community is saying on Twitter regarding Disney’s more controversial films.
Disney’s Peter Pan is so incredibly racist like .. I never actually realized this when I was younger but WOW. pic.twitter.com/paslKwq4S6
— 🎄jingle chels ❄️ (@chelseaareads) November 13, 2019
Disney plus bout to remind a lot of people how racist they were in old cartoons
— Drink D'usse (@tha_statement) November 13, 2019
I appreciate Disney apologizing for the racists awash it they used to put in their movies! I just watched Aladdin last night, and I was offended for Arabs! And I’m black!
— Mother of Draggings🇦🇬 (@VoniVodka) November 13, 2019
I’m super here for Disney addressing all the animated movies with racist connotations they put out before they decided to a make a channel for children lol . They had to know the 2019 energy was coming for them
— Van Deezy (@FRASSMonGuru) November 13, 2019
I would believe that if that warning were on Song of the South. It's not.
It's a cute platitude, but it means ultimately nothing. As I said, people will get offended over anything at this point – going as far as to be offended for other people that aren't "offended enough."
— Crane (@MiskatonicMed) November 13, 2019
stand out as being the sole good humans in the film, and even Lady's owners learn they messed up. Definitely can't excuse the racist Siamese cats, tho. I'll at least give Disney credit for not trying to brush that under the rug like they did Song of the South. /end
— The Holly Jolly Boobfather @🖤🦅 (@The_Boobfather) November 13, 2019
I wish old Disney movies weren’t so casually racist. I just want to enjoy Peter Pan, but all of the “red man” scenes are so cringeworthy. Also, why is everyone so mean to Wendy??
— Samantha Klecker (@samkablam7) November 13, 2019
Really Disney?? You are putting warnings on your cartoons with the caption ‘Warning contains outdated cultural content’, so that the fragile millennials don’t get triggered??! Disney YOU ARE RIDICULOUS! Shame on you for being ashamed of these beautiful classic cartoons.
— Paul Kupe (@KupePaul) November 13, 2019
What sad times these are. @disneyplus slapping cultural warnings on original content.
Smart move, but sad that times are the way they are. #Disney #disneyplus
— WoundedTiger (@tiger_wounded) November 13, 2019