Disney+ adds content disclaimer for “outdated cultural depictions”

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

It hasn't even been forty-eight hours since Disney+ launched their streaming service, yet the newcomer to the streaming world has already generated several stories including technical problems, info regarding the new Obi-Wan series, the absence of Spider-Man solo films, and of course Maclunkey Gate. (Seriously it feels like my news feed is nothing but Disney+ and impeachment hearing stories.) Well you can now add another story to the list, this time involving some of Disney+'s older content.

In an effort to distance itself from material people many would now consider offensive, the streaming service has added a content warning before certain films that reads, “This program is presented as originally created. It may contain outdated cultural depictions.” Said warning appears before several Disney animated features including DUMBO, LADY AND THE TRAMP, THE ARISTOCATS, and THE JUNGLE BOOK. Each of those movies contains material that doesn't line up with modern concepts such as DUMBO's racist depiction of black crows or the stereotypical Asian Siamese cats from LADY AND THE TRAMP.

I'm kind of torn about this news. On the one hand it's important to acknowledge that we've moved beyond outdated forms of thinking but does that warrant Disney's actions? I guess it's a good thing that they are giving audiences a heads up before parents let their children watch certain movies. As a parent of a five year old boy I can certainly appreciate that. It's also better than say re-editing the film altogether or pretending it doesn't exist ala SONG OF THE SOUTH. Yet I think most people are intelligent enough to understand that you can recognize the outdated nature of a a film and still enjoy it. BILL & TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE contains a pretty offensive homophobic slur but it doesn't mean I endorse that kind of language nor does it lessen my love of the film. It's a complex issue that doesn't offer easy answers.