- Movies affected by the move include Dumbo and Peter Pan
- The move comes as part of a shift in DEI strategy at Disney
- Disney has carried content warnings on some films since 2019
Disney is changing some of the content warnings shown before its classic films, such as Dumbo, reverting to a message from several years ago.
Content warnings have appeared at the beginning of certain movies released in the 1940s and 50s since November 2019, to warn viewers that the feature contained racist depictions. Affected movies include Dumbo – released in 1941 – and Peter Pan, which came out in 1953.
Changing warning
Since October 2020, the warning read as follows: “This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe.”
But now, as confirmed by Variety, Disney is shifting its stance and reverting back to its original warning from 2019: “This program is presented as originally created. It may contain outdated cultural depictions.”
Strategy change
This move comes as Disney revised its diversity strategy within the company. For instance, company leaders will now be rated on a ‘talent strategy’ criteria, rather than a ‘diversity and inclusion’ one. However, this will still include how executive “incorporate different perspectives” and “cultivate an environment where all employees can thrive.”
Disney has been shifting away from political issues in the past couple of years. In 2022, as noted by the New York Times, Robert A Iger, chief executive of Disney, said that some of the company’s products had become too political and ordered a review of the projects that it had on its production slate.
The House of Mouse has faced controversy over ‘woke’ shows too. Star Wars show The Acolyte was cancelled after one season last year. It had faced criticism from a certain section of the internet for the female-centric nature of the show and claims it was pushing an LGBTQ+ agenda, as well as featuring a diverse cast. The show had initially had positive reviews and other fans were unhappy when the show was cancelled.
