Disney+ has tacked warnings about “outdated cultural depictions” for a few old films — but some people think it’s not enough.
The streaming service, which launched on Tuesday and already has over 10 million subscribers, has attached a message in the description of multiple classic movies like “Dumbo,” “Peter Pan,” “The Jungle Book,” which have all faced criticism for including racial stereotypes.
The warning reads: “This program is presented as originally created. It may contain outdated cultural depictions.”
The inclusion of the warning has been met with both praise and criticism — and quickly ignited a conversation on social media. While some people have expressed that the warnings prove Disney is taking “accountability” for its history, others said the language is too “dismissive.”
In one viral tweet, Twitter user @unicornmatics compared the wording Disney used in the warnings to those of Warner Bros. Entertainment, who have included some before cartoons like “Looney Tunes” and “Tom and Jerry.”
While Dumbo’s description states the film “may contain outdated cultural depictions,” WB’s message warns that the cartoons “may depict some ethnic and racial prejudices that were once commonplace in American society” and adds, “such depictions were wrong then and are wrong today.”
Hate to nitpick a sensitivity warning but Disney+’s feels so brief and kind of dismissive by calling it “outdated cultural depictions” vs Warner Brothers actually calling it racial prejudice pic.twitter.com/98uYEBLyZK
— give Rise 3 seasons or we fight (@unicornmantis) November 12, 2019
“Hate to nitpick a sensitivity warning but Disney+’s feels so brief and kind of dismissive by calling it ‘outdated cultural depictions’ vs Warner Brothers actually calling it racial prejudice,” the person wrote.
“I didn’t catch the ‘may’ part in Disney’s post, Lmao how fucking cowardly do you have to be to not say a film is racist,” they added.
Many others agreed with the user, one writing, “At least Warner Brothers had the balls to be like ‘yeah this was & is racist as hell’ as opposed to Disney’s weak-ass attempt to distance themselves from it. To say ‘cultural depictions’ is to imply that that’s all they were then, which is ABSOLUTELY not the f–king case.”
Another called the warning, “weak sauce copy” and added, “Very glad they’re not editing this material, but ‘outdated’ implies it was once fine and culture just moved on. And that’s not true. This material was vigorously protested and debated contemporaneously.”
Check out more of the backlash in the tweets, below.
I didn’t catch the “may” part in Disney’s post, Lmao how fucking cowardly do you have to be to not say a film is racist
— give Rise 3 seasons or we fight (@unicornmantis) November 12, 2019
@ everyone making excuses by saying “well it’s not that bad”, no offense but how the fuck do you rationalize racist depictions of black people.
— give Rise 3 seasons or we fight (@unicornmantis) November 13, 2019
“Outdated cultural depictions” makes it sound like the movie contains swing dancing or people saying “hooey”.
— Algae (@Algae_X) November 13, 2019
It is honest, doesn’t beat around the bush and doesn’t change or remove the actual content of the shows.
The proper way of dealing with this.
— Lahis (@Lahiss) November 13, 2019
“It may contain outdated cultural depictions” is some weak sauce copy, Disney. Very glad they’re not editing this material, but ‘outdated’ implies it was once fine and culture just moved on. And that’s not true. This material was vigorously protested and debated contemporaneously https://t.co/nNwg6eZqho
— Jonathan Lack (@JonathanLack) November 12, 2019
At least Warner Brothers had the balls to be like “yeah this was & is racist as hell” as opposed to Disney’s weak-ass attempt to distance themselves from it. To say “cultural depictions” is to imply that that’s all they were then, which is ABSOLUTELY not the fucking case
— Nikki! 🎄 (@Neptune__Walker) November 14, 2019
disney: makes a character thats a caricature of black people and names him ‘jim crow’
disney: listen. it MAY be racist. maybe. it may not be.— tyler!! ☀️🛡 (@tyisreallygay) November 13, 2019
@Disney / @disneyplus should take a cue from @wbpictures / @warnerbros on how to write a disclaimer about films with racist depictions of ethnicities.
Bravo WB!
FU @Disney / @disneyplus
(2/2) pic.twitter.com/PFgFfeSljz
— John Cancilla84🌹 (@Konducta4LFE) November 13, 2019
Seriously, take a cue from @wbpictures / @warnerbros on how to write a disclaimer about racist movies etc. “It may contain outdated cultural depictions”
LOL! #GTFOH No Disney+ for me!#Disney = 💩
P.S. Does anyone know why ‘Enchanted’ is not available? https://t.co/lGerVxLwuu pic.twitter.com/lT1LD8pUry
— John Cancilla84🌹 (@Konducta4LFE) November 13, 2019
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